Cebu F.C.
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| Full name | Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Gentle Giants | ||
| Short name | DHC CFC | ||
| Founded | 2021 | ||
| Ground | Dynamic Herb Sports Complex | ||
| Capacity | 550 | ||
| Owner | Dynamic Herb Sports Incorporated | ||
| Chairman | Uğur Taşçı | ||
| Head coach | Memiş Özata | ||
| League | Philippines Football League | ||
| 2022–23 | Philippines Football League, 2nd of 5 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Cebu Football Club (also known as Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club or DH Cebu for ownership reason) is a Filipino professional football club based in Cebu City. The team plays in the Philippines Football League (PFL), the top-flight league of football in the Philippines.
The club was founded in 2021. Affiliated with Cebu Football Association, Cebu F.C. is the third professional club to represent its region, after Cebu Queen City United which competed in UFL Division 2, and Global Cebu which competed in the PFL.
History
The club is owned by Dynamic Herb Sports Incorporated, under the management of Ugur Tasci, a Turkish businessman who first arrived in the Philippines in 1994, together with his brother, Cem Tasci who developed Leylam Football Club that brought honors to Cebu in football tournaments, locally and abroad. Following the success of Leylam, Tasci formed a new club that would join the Philippines Football League.
Philippines Football League
In 2021, it was reported that Dynamic Herb Cebu was applying for a license to be able to join the PFL as early as that season. On 31 July 2021, Dynamic Herb Cebu was granted a provisional license pending full compliance of requirements that would allow it to participate in the 2021 PFL season. The club is the successor of Leylam FC.
2021 season
Dynamic Herb Cebu's initial roster composed mostly of homegrown players from Leylam reinforced by players from other PFL clubs and collegiate teams. The club's provisional license was affirmed on 24 August 2021. The club was scheduled to debut in the 2021 PFL season, but the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club played its first competitive match on November 11, 2021, a 1–0 loss to Stallion Laguna at the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara. Cebu qualified in the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara semi-finals as group runners-up. They lost to eventual champions Kaya F.C.-Iloilo 1–0 in the semifinals. Cebu finished their 2021 season as fourth placers in the Copa Paulino Alcantara after losing to Stallion Laguna via penalty shootout.
2022 season
After securing a partnership with Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor, Cebu signed Mehmet Kakil as the club's new head coach with Levent Öztürk as his assistant. They also signed former Hatayspor youth players Mert Altinöz and Arda Çinkir while Nazim Özcan was signed on loan.
Cebu started their 2022 season by defeating Stallion Laguna 2–0 in the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara, recording their first ever victory since the club's foundation. Cebu finished second in the table and captured a semi-finals berth for the second straight season. They lost to eventual champions United City 1–0 in the semifinals. Cebu once again finished as fourth placers in the Copa Paulino Alcantara after losing to Stallion Laguna 2–1.
Cebu made their Philippines Football League debut in a 3–0 defeat against Kaya F.C.-Iloilo.
Affiliation with Hatayspor
In January 2022 the club launched a partnership with Süper Lig club Hatayspor. The partnership with Hatayspor aims to develop both men's and women's team and the development of football academic programs for the youth academy. Also part of the agreement are the exchange of coaching staff and players, including those who are in the academy. Cebu finished 2022–23 Philippines Football League season as runners-up thus seeing them qualified for their very first 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage competition.
Stadium
Cebu plays its home games at the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex in Talisay. The sports complex has a stadium with 500 seating capacity, two FIFA-standard football fields, and indoor arena that accommodates several sporting events like futsal, basketball, badminton, and volleyball.
Crest and colors
Cebu's crest colors are red, white, grey and black and features a whale shark from Oslob, Cebu.
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As Dynamic Herb Cebu (2021–)
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt partner |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–present | RAD Apparel | Dynamic Herb Sports1 The Green Table Tigertek Sports Pocari Sweat2 |
- 1Major shirt sponsor (names located at the front of the shirt).
- 2Secondary sponsor (names mostly located at the back of the shirt).
Players
First team squad
- As of 19 August 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel
- As of January 2024
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Memiş Özata |
| Assistant coach | Everardo Alfaro |
| Team manager | Hannah Wong |
| Goalkeeping coach | Ref Cuaresma |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Justino Seoane |
| Physiotherapist | Mark Kevin Uy |
| Team Doctor | Rhoel Dejaño |
| Equipment manager | Jimmy Liman Jr. |
Head coaches
| Name | Period | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Oliver Colina | 2021–2022 | |
| Mehmet Kakil | 2022–2023 | |
| Joshua Schirmer | 2023–2024 | |
| Memiş Özata | 2024– |
Performance in AFC competitions
- AFC Cup: 1 appearance
- 2023–24: Group Stage
Records
| Season | Division | League Position | Copa Paulino Alcantara | AFC Cup | AFC Champions League | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PFL | Cancelled | 4th | — | — | |
| 2022 | 2nd | 4th | — | — | ||
| 2023 | Semi-Finals | Group stage | — | |||
| Updated as of December 9, 2023 | ||||||
Continental record
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | Agg. / Pos. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Away | |||||
| 2023–24 | AFC Cup | Group stage | Phnom Penh Crown | 0–3 | 0–4 | Group F (3rd) |
| Macarthur FC | 0–3 | 2–8 | ||||
| Shan United | 1–0 | 1–1 | ||||
Affiliated clubs
The following club is currently affiliated with Cebu:
- Hatayspor (2022–present)