Ceres-Negros Football Club will start its busy year without defender Amani Aguinaldo, who has signed up to join Thai League 1 Club Trat FC.
Aguinaldo won’t be around when the Busmen see action in the qualifying playoff preliminaries of the 2020 Asian Football Confederation Champions League.
The 24-year-old Aguinaldo was on loan last season at Malaysia Super League outfit PKNP FC.
This was after Aguinaldo tried out at South Korean club Incheon United in a bid to have a stint with the K League organization.
Aguinaldo was one of the many players who played for host Philippines during the 30th Southeast Asian Games last month.
The Busmen, who will be reinforced by members of the Philippine Junior Azkals, are set to meet Shan United of Myanmar on Jan. 14.
The winner will move up to the second prelims against Shar Khodro of Iran.
There are 28 teams vying for eight slots that are still available in the Group Stage.
On the other hand, another Philippine squad, Kaya FC, is getting ready for AFC Cup Group Stage this February. They will clash with Shan United on Feb. 12.
Meanwhile, organizers are preparing to unfurl the Qatar Airways-Philippine Football League this March.
It will be now on its fourth season, which was revived following the disbandment of the Premier League.
Six clubs are expected to take part.
