Cebu F.C.

Filipino association football club based in Cebu City
Football club
Dynamic Herb Cebu
Full nameDynamic Herb Cebu Football Club
Nickname(s)The Gentle Giants
Short nameDHC
CFC
Founded2021; 3 years ago (2021)
GroundDynamic Herb Sports Complex
Capacity550
OwnerDynamic Herb Sports Incorporated
ChairmanUğur Taşçı
Head coachMemiş Özata
LeaguePhilippines Football League
2022–23Philippines Football League, 2nd of 5
WebsiteClub website
Home colours
Away colours
Current season

Cebu Football Club (also known as Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club or DH Cebu for ownership reason) is a Filipino professional football club based in Cebu City. The team plays in the Philippines Football League (PFL), the top-flight league of football in the Philippines.[1]

The club was founded in 2021. Affiliated with Cebu Football Association, Cebu F.C. is the third professional club to represent its region, after Cebu Queen City United which competed in UFL Division 2, and Global Cebu which competed in the PFL.[2]

History

The club is owned by Dynamic Herb Sports Incorporated, under the management of Ugur Tasci, a Turkish businessman who first arrived in the Philippines in 1994, together with his brother, Cem Tasci who developed Leylam Football Club that brought honors to Cebu in football tournaments, locally and abroad.[3] Following the success of Leylam, Tasci formed a new club that would join the Philippines Football League.[4]

Philippines Football League

In 2021, it was reported that Dynamic Herb Cebu was applying for a license to be able to join the PFL as early as that season. On 31 July 2021, Dynamic Herb Cebu was granted a provisional license pending full compliance of requirements that would allow it to participate in the 2021 PFL season.[5][6][7] The club is the successor of Leylam FC.[8]

2021 season

Dynamic Herb Cebu's initial roster composed mostly of homegrown players from Leylam reinforced by players from other PFL clubs and collegiate teams.[9] The club's provisional license was affirmed on 24 August 2021.[10] The club was scheduled to debut in the 2021 PFL season, but the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] The club played its first competitive match on November 11, 2021, a 1–0 loss to Stallion Laguna at the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[13][14] Cebu qualified in the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara semi-finals as group runners-up. They lost to eventual champions Kaya F.C.-Iloilo 1–0 in the semifinals.[15] Cebu finished their 2021 season as fourth placers in the Copa Paulino Alcantara after losing to Stallion Laguna via penalty shootout.[16]

2022 season

After securing a partnership with Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor, Cebu signed Mehmet Kakil as the club's new head coach with Levent Öztürk as his assistant. They also signed former Hatayspor youth players Mert Altinöz and Arda Çinkir while Nazim Özcan was signed on loan.[17]

Cebu started their 2022 season by defeating Stallion Laguna 2–0 in the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara, recording their first ever victory since the club's foundation.[18][19] Cebu finished second in the table and captured a semi-finals berth for the second straight season. They lost to eventual champions United City 1–0 in the semifinals.[20][21] Cebu once again finished as fourth placers in the Copa Paulino Alcantara after losing to Stallion Laguna 2–1.[22]

Cebu made their Philippines Football League debut in a 3–0 defeat against Kaya F.C.-Iloilo.[23]

Affiliation with Hatayspor

In January 2022 the club launched a partnership with Süper Lig club Hatayspor.[24][25] The partnership with Hatayspor aims to develop both men's and women's team and the development of football academic programs for the youth academy. Also part of the agreement are the exchange of coaching staff and players, including those who are in the academy.[26][27] Cebu finished 2022–23 Philippines Football League season as runners-up thus seeing them qualified for their very first 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage competition.

Stadium

Cebu plays its home games at the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex in Talisay.[28] The sports complex has a stadium with 500 seating capacity, two FIFA-standard football fields, and indoor arena that accommodates several sporting events like futsal, basketball, badminton, and volleyball.[29][30]

Crest and colors

Cebu's crest colors are red, white, grey and black and features a whale shark from Oslob, Cebu.[31]

Cebu crest history
  • As Dynamic Herb Cebu (2021–)
    As Dynamic Herb Cebu (2021–)

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
2021–present Philippines RAD Apparel Dynamic Herb Sports1
The Green Table
Tigertek Sports
Pocari Sweat2
  • 1Major shirt sponsor (names located at the front of the shirt).
  • 2Secondary sponsor (names mostly located at the back of the shirt).

Players

As of 23 March 2024[32]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Philippines PHI Florencio Badelic Jr.
4 DF Philippines PHI Kamil Amirul
6 MF Philippines PHI Daniel Gadia
7 DF Philippines PHI Evren Tasci
8 MF Philippines PHI Jeremiah Borlongan
9 FW Philippines PHI Kintaro Miyagi
10 FW Suriname SUR Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham
11 FW Philippines PHI Chima Uzoka
12 DF Philippines PHI John Saldivar
13 MF Philippines PHI Baris Tasci (vice-captain)
14 DF Philippines PHI Jaime Rosquillo
15 MF Philippines PHI Glen Ramos
17 MF Philippines PHI Yoji Selman
18 DF Philippines PHI Erich Orale
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Turkey TUR Devrim Yanık
20 MF Philippines PHI Roberto Corsame Jr.
21 FW Japan JPN Rintaro Hama
25 GK Philippines PHI Nathanael Villanueva (captain)
30 DF Philippines PHI Charles Dabao
32 DF Philippines PHI Elijah Liao
37 DF Turkey TUR Göktuğ Demiroğlu
45 MF Philippines PHI Rhino Goutier
47 MF Netherlands NED Guytho Mijland
66 GK Netherlands NED Yusuf Çekiç
77 FW Senegal SEN Abou Sy
80 MF Ivory Coast CIV Marius Kore
99 GK Philippines PHI Jack Zambrano

Personnel

Head coaches

Name Period Ref.
Philippines Oliver Colina 2021–2022 [33]
Turkey Mehmet Kakil 2022–2023 [34]
United States Joshua Schirmer 2023–2024 [35]
Turkey Memiş Özata 2024– [36]

Performance in AFC competitions

2023–24: Group Stage

Records

Season Division League Position Copa Paulino Alcantara AFC Cup AFC Champions League
2021 PFL Cancelled 4th — —
2022 2nd 4th — —
2023 Semi-Finals Group stage —
Updated as of December 9, 2023

Continental record

Season Competition Round Club Score Agg. / Pos.
Home Away
2023–24 AFC Cup Group stage Cambodia Phnom Penh Crown 0–3 0–4 Group F
(3rd)
Australia Macarthur FC 0–3 2–8
Myanmar Shan United 1–0 1–1

Affiliated clubs

The following club is currently affiliated with Cebu:

References

  1. ^ "PFF gives Cebu provisionary license; Laos given deadline to fulfill requirements". Tiebreaker Times. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Dynamic Herb Cebu FC packs team with homegrown talent". Cebu Sports. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Dynamic Herb Facilities In Cebu Need Name Partners". Pinoyfootball. 13 May 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Dynamic Herb Cebu FC is PH Football League's newest member". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. ^ "PFF First Instance Body Issues Decisions On Applicant Clubs". Philippine Football Federation. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  6. ^ "FIB decisions on applicant clubs". Philippines Football League. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Green light for Dynamic Herb FC for 2021 PFL". ASEAN Football Federation. 1 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  8. ^ "DH Cebu Football Club appeals for support from Cebuanos in PFL campaign". 6 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. ^ Aznar, Edri (13 August 2021). "Colina eyes strong debut season for Cebu FC in PFL". Sunstar. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  10. ^ Terrado, Reuben (25 August 2021). "Cebu FC granted provisional license for 2021 PFL season". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  11. ^ "PFF reschedules PFL opener due to ECQ". Tiebreaker Times. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  12. ^ "PFL teams stay active". 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  13. ^ Terrado, Reuben (15 November 2021). "Cebu Football Club gives homegrown talents chance to realize dream". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  14. ^ Rosal, Glendale G. (November 11, 2021). "Cebu FC loses to Laguna FC in PH Football League's Copa debut". CDN Digital. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  15. ^ Aznar, Edri (17 November 2021). "Cebu FC loses to Kaya FC in Copa semis". SunStar Cebu. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. ^ Rosal, Glendale G. (20 November 2021). "Cebu Football Club ends Copa Paulino Alcantara stint with 4-5 penalty shootout loss to Laguna FC". Cebu Daily News via Inquirer. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Cebu FC unveils new look". SunStar Cebu. 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  18. ^ Terrado, Jonas (26 April 2022). "Dynamic Herb Cebu beats Stallion-Laguna for breakthrough win in Copa". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  19. ^ Yumol, David Tristan (25 April 2022). "Dynamic Herb Cebu victorious in Copa Paulino Alcantara 2022 opener". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  20. ^ Aznar, Edri (18 May 2022). "Cebu FC loses to UCFC in 2022 Copa semis". SunStar Cebu. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  21. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (17 May 2022). "PFL: Lyngbo scores header as United City overcomes Cebu to reach CPA final". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Stallion Laguna clinches third after tight contest against Dynamic Herb Cebu". Philippines Football League. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (17 August 2022). "PFL: Kaya-Iloilo blanks Dynamic-Cebu, 3-0". Panay News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Hatayspor'dan iki antrenör ve 3 futbolcu Filipinler Ligi'ne transfer oldu" (in Turkish). Ajansspor. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Hatayspor'da sürpriz Filipinler gelişmesi" (in Turkish). Fanatik. 15 March 2022. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  26. ^ Rosal, Glendale G. (21 April 2022). "CFC ties up with Turkey's Hatayspor to develop football in Cebu, PH". Cebu Daily News via Inquirer. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  27. ^ Villaflor, Noel (23 April 2022). "Cebu FC prepares for war". Sun Star Cebu. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Lim: Sports bubble and a new football stadium in Cebu". Sunstar. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Unveiling of FIFA-standard artificial turf in Cebu being eyed in September". Cebu Daily News. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex: Cebu City's World-Class Football Turf". Sugbo PH. 8 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  31. ^ Rosal, Glendale G. (2 September 2021). "Dynamic Herb Cebu FC is PH Football Leagues newest member". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  32. ^ "TEAM ROSTER - Cebu Football Club". Philippines Football League on Facebook. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Newly formed Cebu Football Club to see action in PFL". Inquirer. 30 October 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Hatayli Futbolcular Filipinler'de Top Kosturacak" (in Turkish). Spor Haberleri. 15 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  35. ^ Rosal, Glendale (10 August 2023). "American Joshua Schirmer is new Cebu FC head coach". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Sürpriz İmza! Ordulu Hoca Süperlig Yolunda" (in Turkish). Hayat Gazetesi Ordu. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.

External links

  • Cebu F.C. on Facebook
  • Cebu FC Latest Results - latest Cebu FC scores