The Cebu Queen City United (CQCU) will be fielding a lineup of homegrown talents as it faces Pachanga FC of the United Football League (UFL) today at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Smart Club Championships.
The match was originally scheduled at 3 p.m. but organizers opted to hold it earlier at 2:30 p.m. in anticipation of untoward delays and avoid playing in the dark as nightfall comes earlier about 5 p.m.
CQCU team manager Stanley Villacin said they will be fielding a regional lineup, most likely the same with the one used they during their match against Ceres FC during the Visayas eliminations, opting not to use the adding and dropping of players option provided by the organizers.
Villacin said the team is in high spirits and is excited to play considering that all they have been doing was train for this and did not have much opportunity to do practice matches.
The team will be missing Robert Canedo and Nico Villacin in its lineup. Despite that, it remains confident of its chances against a very formidable team which is manned by a combination of players of Pachanga and UP Diliman.
CQCU is banking on a psychological advantage of having drawn and beaten UP Diliman in their matches in the UFL.
The team will also be relying on homecourt advantage with Villacin urging the Cebuanos to support the team as it would really count.
“I am hopeful that the Cebu crowd especially those who love football will watch and cheer us. Any inspiration will be appreciated,” said Villacin.