National Football Selection Tourney Kicks Off Today

by James Toga

The Girls’ Under-13 National Football Selection Tournament kicks off today until April 22, 2012 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

Teams from around the country expected to come out strong are Cebu, Dumaguete, Davao, Manila, and the cities of Bacolod & San Carlos in Negros Occidental.

According to Rafael "Junie" Lizares Jr., member of the Women’s Committee of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), that this event will have two venues, April 18-20 at the Panaad pitch while it will be transferred to Carlos Hilado Memorial State College football ground in Talisay City on April 21 and 22.

He explained that the reason for shifting of venue from Panaad to CHMSC is due to unavailability of the said venue on April 21 and 22.

After this tournament, they will select players to compose the Philippine U-13 squad, which will immediately hold a training camp on April 23. However, the venue is still to be determined, he said.

"This national U-13 squad will represent our country this year in the Asean Football Confederation (AFC) – sanctioned U-13 tournament on June 9-16 in Vietnam," Lizares added.

On the other hand, more than 80 teams from Cebu, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Manila and province of Negros Occidental are joining the 2-day annual PFF Summer Football Caravan which kicked off yesterday and culminates today at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College and Talisay City football field.

This event, which is in cooperation with Talisay and Minulu-an Talisay City Football Club (MTCFC), will have eight categories will be contested; on April 17, the 8 –under, 12-under, 16-under boys, and U-16 girls. On April 18 are; 10-under, 14-under boys’, 18-under boys and ladies open.

The 8-under format will be 4 vs. 4 without the goal keeper; 7 vs. 7 for 12-under, 16-under boys’ and U-16 girls.

The 10-under format will be 6 vs. 6; and 7 vs. 7 for 14-under boys’, 18-under boys’ and ladies open.

Meanwhile, MTCFC is headed by Rafael T. Lizares, Jr. and chaired by Talisay City Mayor Eric M. Saratan, MD.* (JGToga)

Negros Daily Bulletin