Push Admin

Football: Founder explains reason for United City FC's 'generic' name

Article (news)

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/sports/07/30/mmc-sportz-marketing-ceo-eric-gottschalk-azkals-team-manager-dan-palami-pff-secretary-general-atty-ed-gastanes.jpg"/><figcaption>MMC Sportz Marketing CEO Eric Gottschalk with Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami and PFF secretary-general Atty. Ed Gastanes. File photo. ABS-CBN Sports</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- The owners of United City Football Club -- formerly Ceres-Negros -- are well aware of the reaction to the team&#x27;s new name. A new group, represented by Eric Gottschalk of MMC Sportz Asia, <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/23/20/football-ceres-negros-is-now-united-city-football-club">took over the team</a> last month after buying the club from Leo Rey Yanson. The club had borne the Ceres name since it was founded in 2012, but the new owners changed it, as part of the terms of the sale.&quot;The agreement with Ceres was we won&#x27;t use their identifications,&quot; Gottschalk said. &quot;We cannot use anything that has been associated with Ceres in the past.&quot;Gottschalk wryly said that the club&#x27;s new name &quot;gets people talking.&quot; Nonetheless, he made it clear that they had reason to choose a &quot;generic&quot; name.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/motorsports/news/2020/08/03/hamilton-wins-british-gp-close-schumacher-s-record-69896">READ: Hamilton wins British GP to close in on Schumacher&#x27;s record</a></li></ul>&quot;We had to come up with something that gives us flexibility going forward,&quot; he explained.&quot;We have not decided yet where we&#x27;re gonna go in terms of location. We might stay in Bacolod, we might move somewhere else,&quot; he added. &quot;So we&#x27;re not sure yet where the club will be based and find its home.&quot;&quot;Therefore, we came out with a generic name.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/30/20/football-new-owners-have-long-term-plan-for-united-city-fc">READ MORE: New owners have long term plan for United City FC</a></li></ul>What they were certain of is that they will be based in a city, and they wanted to unite the fans, hence the name they chose.&quot;Maybe at the moment, it doesn&#x27;t make much sense,&quot; Gottschalk acknowledged. &quot;(But) we all agreed, let&#x27;s put a generic name out there, let&#x27;s get used to it. Once we put the final location, it will make sense. Please bear with us.&quot;The response to the club name aside, Gottschalk has been pleased with how fans have reacted to United City FC. He noted that they had a huge response to an online contest to determine the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedcityfootballclub/photos/a.124655385985695/125939712523929/?type=3&amp;theater">club&#x27;s new crest</a>, as well as the news of Stephan Schrock&#x27;s signing.&quot;There is love for football and huge interest in football,&quot; he said. &quot;We all will get used to a transitional name for right now, but it will all make sense in a couple of weeks.&quot;United City FC has been unveiling its roster, with players like OJ Porteria, Robert Mendy, and goal-scoring ace Bienvenido Maranon signing new contracts with the club.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>).

The owners of United City Football Club -- formerly Ceres-Negros -- are well aware of the reaction to the team's new name.

The owners of United City Football Club -- formerly Ceres-Negros -- are well aware of the reaction to the team's new name.

Football: Founder explains reason for United City FC's 'generic' name

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Football: Founder explains reason for United City FC's 'generic' name

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 03, 2020 04:03 PM PHT

Read More:

football

United City FC

United City Football Club

Ceres Negros FC

PFL

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.