The PFF Suzuki U23 Cup

Submitted by Cyrus Garde

 It’s Cebu loss but Dumaguete’s gain. It is because the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Suzuki U23 National Cup semi-finals and finals will be played starting today in Dumaguete instead of Cebu City for reason we still don’t know.
Dumaguete City is becoming popular in sports nowadays after the hosting of 2013 Palarong Pambansa last month. There are so many sports activities held in Dumaguete City like the Philippine Basketball Association at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center but it is not as popular as hosting the Palarong Pambansa. Sports hosting after the Palaro will put Dumaguete again in the map of sports. I remember the first time I stepped soil in Dumaguete City after the PFF All Visayas qualifying championship. If I may recall, it was in 1995 or early than that and during the time of Bacoleño Ricardo "Cano" Tan’s leadership at PFF.
I know of the PFF Suzuki U23 finals after I attended the press conference in San Carlos City last March. The All Visayas qualifying game is supposed to be held in the north Negros City of San Carlos, but was only informed it was postponed. The dates are April 15 to 20, 2013. But all of a sudden, it was not held and only to realize that Dumaguete City will host the semi-finals and the finals starting today up to May 30. Cebu City is supposed to host the semifinals May 27 to 28 and the finals on May 30-31. But as I said, it was reset and the finals will be played May 30.
A group of sportswriters and broadcasters have been invited to attend the opening today in Dumaguete City, maybe to show how the match will be played or hosted by Dumaguete City with ten teams joining lead by defending champion NOFA. Well, this one is kind of putting football into the minds of our countrymen, where we can excel in international sports competition like boxing. But somehow, the problem in recruitment of foreign players should be explained by PFF just our team would be competitive in the sports. PFF, with so much resources coming from FIFA, has been reinforced by Suzuki Philippines and there is no reason it cannot compare with other world class football teams.

Negros Daily Bulletin