Rufo to add Spanish flair to Stallion FC

Rufino "Rufo"Sanchez, the leading goal scorer for Spanish Third Division club CF Internacional de Madrid (second from the right) will be joining local side Stallion after the Holy Week break.

Rufo to add Spanish flair to Stallion

story and pic by rick olivares

Iloilo-based football club Stallion hopes to inject some tiki taka to their play when CF Internacional de Madrid striker Rufino "Rufo" Sanchez joins Ruben Doctora Jr., Joo Young Lee and company remainder of their UFL campaign.

Sanchez, who is scheduled to arrive in Manila after Holy Week, will be on loan to Stallion – a stunning coup for the club that is looking to regain its bearings after suffering a draw and a loss in its last two matches after opening the league season with four straight wins.

The Spanish footballer was a part of the visiting Spanish third division club that came over for a charity match with the Azkals Alyansa last January 7, 2012. Madrid won that match 3-1 with Rufo drawing first blood for the visiting team.

According to Stallion assistant coach Bob Bayona, the club was able to acquire Rufo on loan for the duration of the UFL league competition. CF Madrid enjoyed a revival in the Spanish Tercera Division after their Philippine trip and the club has won four of its last outings to climb to seventh place in the 20-team standings. Madrid currently totes a 11-10-8 record with a plus-five goal differential that is good for 43 points.

Real Madrid’s Team C is in that group and is currently in second place behind Fuenlabarda which is tops in the standings with 56 points, three full points ahead of Los Blancos. Last Sunday, March 18, Madrid that dealt them a 1-0 loss that saw the third team of Real Madrid drop in the standings.

“While Rufo is leading Madrid in scoring, they do not see his going on loan as a problem,” said Bayona. “The Spanish team believes that it is a team game and it will allow their other players to show what they can do. It’s a risk but it could be a win-win situation for all. How Dr. Eu Hyung Pe integrates him into our squad with Ruben Doctora Jr. and Joo Young Lee is a good problem to have."

Bayona refused to disclose the terms and financial costs of the deal for Rufo but he did mention that the original plan was to secure the rights for two players from Madrid in order to help Rufo cope with homesickness. Club Chairman Stephen Newman will accompany Sanchez to Manila to help in his assimilation with Stallion and life in the nation’s capital.

Bayona also added that they are working on bringing over Real Madrid Team C to Manila for an exhibition match.