THE Cebu Queen City United Football Club (CQCU FC) will be playing minus its team captain John Michael Flores not only when it faces Laos FC today at the University of Makati but also for the rest of the second round of the United Football League Second Division Tournament after the former Philippine team member was slapped with a suspension.
The CQCU FC has suspended Flores and Mark Hilay for opting to play for Hiroshi Football Club in the 12th Cebu Interclub Football Cup which will end today.
Albert Nangkil will be donning the team captain mantle in Flores’ absence.
Flores mans the team’s midfield while Hilay is a reserve for the left flank. The vacuum left by Flores in the midfield will be covered by Nangkil and Carlito “Shaq” Abadia while Limhar Baunsit will man the left flank.
Head coach Mario Ceniza said that the players’ suspension is a big loss especially since Flores is the team captain but he told his players to just focus on their matches and not dwell on what happened.
Abadia and Nangkil are already familiar with their new assignments because they have played in Flores’ position last week against Diliman Victory Liner FC.
Flores also missed that game because he earned a red card when they played against Union Internacional Manila.
Against Laos today, Ceniza is hopeful they would replicate their 2-0 win against the same team in the first round.
He also told them not to be complacent now that Laos is missing the services of the Angeles brothers—Marwin and Marvin. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON