THE United City Football Club (UCFC) signed Stephan Schrock both as a player and assistant manager and announced its plans for a “farm system” that aims to help the sport’s development in the country.
Eric Gottschalk, UCFC co-owner and MMC Sportz Asia CEO and founder, also told a virtual press conference on Wednesday that the team—which bought the multi-titled Ceres Negros squad—is looking at three or four venues to play its home games.
“The organization will be dedicating and focusing on the development of local and foreign talent,” Gottschalk said. “A ‘farm system’ will be created specifically for the holistic development of Filipino football players.”
“We are looking at players especially from the provinces who, due to lack of infrastructure, do not have access to equipment and technology but have the talent and skills,” Gottschalk added.
Gottschalk said the team also tabbed Bienvenido Marañon, the Asian Football Confederation Cup all-time leading scorer, adding the UCFC continues to shore its lineup.
“We are targeting from former national team mainstays to former UAAP [University Athletic Association of the Philippines] standouts,” he said.
UCFC kept the Ceres core intact by signing up 16 of the former team’s 21 players.
Ceres Negros folded up with its owners pinning the blame on the Covid-19 pandemic.
UCFC General Manager and Coordinator Ace Bright is overseeing the immediate and long-term strategy of the organization, Gottschalk said.
“The club will also have something in store for the most loyal fans of UCFC which has never been done in Philippine football,” Gottschalk said. It’s a loyalty membership program that will entitle both UCFC and maybe, even PFL [Philippine Football League] fans to promos, discounts and privileges to establishment and brand partners of the club.”
Gottschalk said the organization is also studying the establishment of football academies and training grounds as part of its contribution to the development and promotion of football.
Football training and competition remain shuttered because of the pandemic.