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Asian Football to celebrate 60 years in Manila next year; Ceres wins in UFL

The governing body of Asian Football will hold its annual awards night in Manila next November. The event is also the 60th anniversary of the founding of the AFC, and returns to the city where it was launched in 1954.

This was bared by the President of the Asian Football Confederation, his Excellency Sheikh Salman Ebrahim Hamad Alkhalifa from Bahrain in a press conference in Makati Shangri-La on Thursday.

Sheikh Salman also informed the media that up to 500 guests representing Asia's 48 Member Associations would attend, plus other dignitaries. FIFA President Sepp Blatter will be invited as well as heads of the other continental confederations like CONCACAF (Central and North America) and UEFA (Europe.)

French playmaking legend Michel Platini is the chief of UEFA so Pinoy Football fans could be seeing him up close.

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PFF president Nonong Araneta also revealed that they are considering holding an exhibition game involving former Football stars in conjunction with the event.

There will be some surprises to attract viewers” added the Sheikh, who hopes that the event will be televised. The yearly event honors Asia's outstanding players, coaches, and teams.

Salman also raised eyebrows when he said that “The Philippines is the second option for hosting the AFC Challenge Cup if something goes wrong with the Maldives.”

The Azkals have reached the final stage of the continental event for developing Football nations in Asia. It is scheduled to be played in the Maldives in May of next year.

Salman also expressed his sadness and concern for the Filipinos affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people and families affected.”

He also affirmed that the AFC is in the process of giving its own assistance to typhoon victims.

Ceres-La Salle 7, Agila 2.

Bacolod's national champions turned on the class with a five-goal second half at Emperador stadium on Thursday to surge into the UFL Cup quarterfinals.

Left winger Jayson Panhay struck twice, including a brilliant left-footed free kick goal in the 36th minute that arced over the wall and into the top corner, past the outstretched fingertips of Agila's towering goalie, Marco Poli.

He's really been a free kick specialist ever since college” said his coach, former National team player Ali Rojas Go.

Agila started brightly with a fine individual goal from Olayemi Victor Bakare eleven minutes in. But Younousse Yaogo leveled just five minutes later, driving the ball low past Poli off a neat pass from Kim Jin Ho.

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Bakare put Agila back in front just two minutes later with a close-range header after being left unmarked. But then Panhay's glorious free kick knotted the game at 2-2. Minutes later Panhay released a gorgeous through ball on to Kim Jin Ho that the Korean hoofed just wide.

Then Ceres defender Park Guen Hyeong somehow managed to hit the crossbar with a volley from a meter out. A frenetic first half concluded with Eirik Stroem's powerful free kick for Agila which also rocked the bar on the other end.

Stroem is an 18-year old Norwegian-Filipino studying in the British School who was raised in the Philippines.

But in the second half, Ceres stamped their class, with Kim striking four minutes in off a Poli flap, and then Panhay getting his second just before the hour mark from an acute angle after another Poli cross misjudgment.

Right after that goal Poli was relieved by Benito Rosalia.

Seven minutes later Agila's Alvin Perez nudged a cross into his own goal for 5-3. Ten minutes later Josh Beloya, a surprise non-starter, came into the game and within seconds scored on a breakaway, chipping over Rosalia for 6-3.

Park Hwa Seo's lovely injury-time outside-of-the-boot goal added the last bit of gloss to the scoreline.

Ceres now squares off against Union Internacional Manila in a mouth-watering elite eight encounter.

In the other game on Thursday, Stallion beat Cebu Queen City United 2-0.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.