Baguio Football - Karika Cup ready to kick off weekend

EVEN WITH the strong rains expected to lash the region with Typhoon Chedeng, the monthly staging of the Karika Cup is set to push through this weekend.

Scheduled on May 28, the Karika Cup, according to organizers will push trough as scheduled, however, if strong rains hit the summer capital by Saturday, officials said they are willing to postpone the games on Sunday, May 29 also at the Melvin Jones Football grounds.

Typhoon Chedeng (international codename: Songda) was not expected to make landfall but will skirt along shores with winds stronger than 150 kilometers per hour and rainfall of 30 millimeters, the government weather bureau said.

Several teams are expected to list up for the three age groups of the competition in the 12 and under (boys and girls), 10 and under (boys and girls) and 8 and under (mixed) categories.

Entry fees for the tournament will be at P200 per team.

Karika Cup was initially organized as a birthday tournament last February but due to the good turn-out and request from parents and coaches, the tournament saw its second staging March 27.

Since then, the tournament has been transformed into Baguio’s grassroots football tournament catering to the 3 grassroots categories of 8-under, 10-under and 12-under with the vision of keeping Karika Cup rolling on a monthly basis so kids can play and enjoy football in a football festival setting and improve their skills.

The tournament is also a self-funded competition with volunteer referees from the Baguio United Football Club, Inc. and the continued support of the Baguio football coaches, parents and football aficionados. (Roderick Osis)


Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on May 27, 2011.