Bukidnon team in Acer Cup U-23 bootfest

VISITING squads Butuan-Agusan del Norte Football Association (Banfa) and Central Mindanao University A-Kids of Musuan, Bukidnon downplayed their chances in the Acer Cup U23 Mindanao Invitational that opened Thursday at the Tionko field.


Both teams are seeing action in the Acer bootfest for the first time.


Banfa coach Glenn Monet said their team had very short preparation for the competition.


They also got funding for their traveling expenses from the Butuan government one day before coming to Davao City.


"Our team is bannered mostly by High School players since our college players can't be excused from their classes. This will be a very good exposure for the team. We are happy for the invitation from Davao Football Association and at the same time with the support of our government officials," Monet said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn on Thursday.


CMU coach Ronaldo Balanda said they've been competing in Davao FA organized events in the past but all these were on Seven-A-Side formats.


Balanda added, "We will try our best to win this 11-A-Side tournament. We have been champions in Seven-A-Side competitions but the Acer Cup will be one great challenge for our part."


He said they CMU is composed of three High School, two 14-under and one 15-year-old players while the rest are college students.


Davao FA general secretary Erwin Protacio said Medvil, Columbia and University of Mindanao (UM) Tagum are also entered in the single round-robin tournament where the team with the most number of points will be declared champion.


The event offers P10,000 cash, trophy and medals to the champion, P5,000 and medals to the runner-up. No less than Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano "Nonong" Araneta will award the prizes. The third placer will also receive medals.


Individual awards will be given to the most valuable player, best striker, best defender and best goalkeeper. (MLSA)


Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 26, 2011.