With a team composed of mostly rookies, University of Cebu (UC) men’s football team head coach Junjun Taneo isn’t expecting much from his booters in this year’s Cesafi football tournament.
But he has one simple request: Don’t finish last.
Handling the coaching chores for the first time this season, Taneo believes he has the proper tools to improve the team’s performance last season, wherein it finished last place. All he needs to do is make sure that the players are aware of this mission.
“Last season, we ended as the fifth placer because we did not have a proper goalkeeper. So this season, I asked the team that at least we will not finish [last place],” said Taneo, an assistant coach for the team in the 2009-2010 season when it bagged the title.
Taneo explained, though, that even if he knows his wards can deliver, he doesn’t want to pressure them to go for the title, especially since many of them are new to the team.
Of the 22 players in the team, only five have remained from last year’s roster. These are Harvy Dungog, James Escoton, Romelito Gesulga, Rustom Seares, and Vic Felicilda.
“I cannot expect them to top the competition because most of them are rookies,” Taneo added.
But he is confident his team is capable of matching up with the strong teams. In fact, he was satisfied with how the Webmasters fought neck-and-neck with defending champion University of San Carlos (USC) last Sept. 30, only to lose, 1-0, because of a defensive lapse.
“Their goal came from a set play. And there was a lapse in my team’s man-to-man markings in the defense. Thus, we conceded that goal,” explained Taneo.
According to Taneo, the fact that USC was having a hard time making direct attacks showed that his team is a contender this season, especially if his booters start to create chemistry.
Today, the Webmasters look to post their first win as they face the University of the Visayas (UV) at the Cebu City Sports Center. Game time is at 1 p.m.
In the next game, perennial runner-up University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers will play its first match of the season against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.
UV will be gunning for its second win while USJ-R is aiming for its first win of the season.