Shrock: United City will win PFL crown

UNITED City Football Club team captain Stephan Shrock expressed high confidence that his team will win the crown in the 2020 Philippines Football League (PFL) season.

Carrying the championship core of the Ceres Negros FC, the 34-year-old Shrock believes that UCFC is well prepared for the season and has the hunger to win it all.

Ceres team owner Leo Rey Yanson sold the franchise to MMC Sportz Asia — the sports marketing agency that handles UCFC — last July, citing financial losses of his bus company Vallacar Transit Inc due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“My team is pretty good prepared,” said Shrock, who plays the midfielder position, in a recent interview with CNN Philippines Sports Desk. “The boys didn’t lack in motivation and discipline during the lockdown which was very hard for them, keeping sharp, especially mentally fresh. It was good to see them all happy, fit and eager to win another title and we will do so in a couple of weeks.”

With UCFC practically parading the players that made Ceres Negros a powerhouse team in the PFL, a three- time champion at that, Shrock knows all the other five teams is coming for them.

The Philippine Azkals mainstay made special mention of Stallion FC and Kaya FC as the teams that will give UCFC a run for its money. Shrock also said that the Azkals Development Team (ADT) — the same squad he played with in last year’s Southeast Asian Games U- 22 Football tourney — can pose a legitimate threat in the league too.

“We have a big target on our back. Everybody wants to have the top position especially with the AFC Champions League spot in the group. For the first time, the winner will advance straight so this makes winning the league even more attractive,” said Shrock.