Sinulog Festival football set next month

By: Glendale G. Rosal

THE CEBU Football Association (CFA) will open 2017 with a major football event dubbed “The 7th Sinulog Festival” slated on Jan. 28 and 29, 2017 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

According to one of the tournament officials Manuel Dumangcas, around 150 teams are expected to compete in this event which features 15 age groups and uses a 7-aside format.

The 15 age groups and divisions are, mixed under 7, mixed under 9, mixed under-11, boys under 13, girls under 13, boys under 15, girls under 15, boys under-18, girls under-18, inter BPO men’s division, Inter BPO ladies division, ladies open, men’s open, 38-above and 45-above.

Registration fee ranges from P800 to 2,000, depending on the age group or division. There will be a discount for teams that will register before Jan. 12, 2017.

This tournament is part of the activities lined up for the month-long celebration of the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/116860/sinulog-festival-football-set-next-month#ixzz4Tbn4ykc6 

120 teams join San Roque football fest

By Edri K. Aznar

Friday, August 15, 2014

WITH the event just a week away, the 10th San Roque Football Festival has already drawn the interest 120 teams.
The organizers are expecting it to balloon to 180 squads before the registration deadline this weekend.
The Boys Under-12 has the most participating teams so far with 20, followed by the Boys Under-17 with close to 20 teams also.
The Men’s Open division has drawn a total of 16 teams so far but is expected to reach to 35 teams.
The San Roque Football Festival kicks off on Aug. 23 and will run for two weekends.
On the opening matches played will be in the Players 6, Players 8, Players 10 and Boys Under-12 divisions. The Ladies Open, Boys Under-19, Men’s BPO, 42-and-above and Men’s Company divisions will be slated on the following day.
Boys Under-14, Girls Under-14, Boys Under-17 and Girls Under-17 categories will be on Aug. 30, while Men’s Open and 38-and-Above divisions will be on the final day of the tournament.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 16, 2014.

Three spectators get one-year ban for joining fray in Cebu Under-18 football brawl

By Jonas Pareiro

CEBU CITY - Three spectators who entered the field and joined the free-for-all during a youth football match have been banned for one year from attending football games, the Cebu Football Association announced on Tuesday.

According to the decision read by lawyer Julius Entise of the CFA’s Disciplinary and Rules Committee, the three, identified as Enrico Mongaya, Paul Chris Costin and Ricardo 'JR' Pepito, are banned from entering a 100-meter vicinity of any venue of a CFA-sanctioned tournament for a whole year.

Mongaya was the man tagged in published pictures hitting the goalkeeper of Alcoy FC during a brawl that occurred in the game against the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in the under-18 division of the 16th Aboitiz Cup. The goalkeeper was wrestling with a SHS-AdC player when Mongaya delivered the blow that bloodied the former.

In an interview, Mongaya, a member of the Customs police, claimed he only came to the rescue of the Ateneo de Cebu player to “prevent further harm or eventual death” after he saw that the Alcoy FC goalie had the former in a headlock.

“In the justifying circumstance of a defense of stranger, one of the elements in a defense of a stranger is reasonable necessity of the means employed to prevent or repel the aggression. After a review of the available information on the circumstances surrounding the incident, the foregoing element in a defense of a stranger is wanting,” the CFA’s decision read.

It continued, “Assuming for the sake of argument that the intention of Enrico Mongaya in entering the playing field was to rescue JM Kwan from the head lock of and prevent further attacks by Rodnel Benolirao, the act of Enrico Mongaya in hitting the head of Rodnel Benolirao cannot be considered as reasonable means.”

With regards to both Costin and Pepito, the CFA’s investigation concluded that both entered the playing field and joined in the foray.

“The act of both Paul Chris Costin and Ricardo 'JR' Pepito is deplorable and a glaringly manifestation of lack, if not absence, of respect towards the game of football, the referees and towards the players. Paul Chris Costin and Ricardo 'JR' Pepito must realize that violent behaviors have no place in the beautiful game of football. Football rejects the use of violence of any nature by anyone involved in the game,” explained the CFA.

All three were also warned that more severe penalties were in store should a repeat of their actions occur.

spin.ph

Beautiful game turns ugly as assault on Under-18 players in Cebu game sparks anger online

• From: Jonas Panerio

CEBU CITY - The world’s beautiful game turned ugly last Sunday when players and spectators engaged in a free-for-all during an Under-18 game between Alcoy FC and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in the 16th Aboitiz Football Cup at the Aboitiz Field.

The incident has readily sparked anger and condemnation, more so after pictures spread on social media sites showing one spectator who appears to be holding a key, striking Alcoy FC goalkeeper Rodenel Binolirao Jr. from behind, bloodying him up in the process.

For pictures of the incident, go to Sun Star Cebu's Facebook page.

In the last development, three players from Alcoy FC are threatening to sue file child abuse charges against the parents who allegedly attacked him.

Binolirao and a player from the Magis Eagles were on the field wrestling with one another when the ugly incident unfolded. The same picture has that same person threatening to punch another spectator who was trying to break up the commotion.

This brawl has caught the city government's attention with the sport’s governing body, the Cebu Football Association, moving quickly to conduct a massive investigation into that game’s events.

According to first-hand accounts, SHS-AdC was ahead 3-1 when tensions rose due to trash-talking from both sides. Punches were eventually thrown and skirmishes broke out all over the field with a player from Alcoy allegedly getting ganged up after he ran towards the Ateneo bench.

The police and Aboitiz security personnel arrived to defuse the incident.

SHS-AdC athletic director Rico Navarro issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

“We deeply regret the events that transpired at the football game between SHS-AdC and Alcoy FC. It was something that nobody had wanted to happen and we would review and look into how it could be avoided. We are looking at the personalities involved and would work with the ongoing investigation of the CFA,” he said.

spin.ph

Cebu - 1st Liloan Sports and Football Club tournament

Posted by Nimrod Quinones
The Liloan Sports and Football Club is hosting a special event this Sunday – a Penalty Tournament.
This is a charity event for the youth of the Liloan SFC.  The competition will be held at the field of the Liloan Elementary School.
Each team is allowed to field only six to 10 players including the goalkeeper.
Entry fee is pegged at P250 per team (6 players –five kickers and one goalie), but an additional P50 will be collected for each additional player as long as there are not more than ten players for a team.
Manfred Schuwerk, one of the organizers, said that the tournament follows the format of a penalty shootout.  Each team fields five kickers and if in case the score is tied after the five kickers, there will be a sudden-death until the tenth kicker for each team.
If the teams are still tied after the tenth kicker, the match will be decided by the tossing of coins.
A team earns three points for each win by the number of goals, two for each win by the toss of a coin, one for a loss by the toss of a coin, and zero for a loss via goals.
Tournament registration is held every Wednesday and Friday during practices at the Liloan Football Field.  Deadline is on December 27.
The elimination round follows the round robin format.  Teams will draw lots for their assignments. If there are more than ten teams, the participants will be divided by bracket.
For the semifinal and the finals, there will be a sudden-death shootout until a team emerges as winner.
There will be a trophy at stake for the champion and half of the total amount that will be collected from entry fees will be given back as cash prizes.
The organizers will also feature penalty shooting by some prominent members of the community.—Nimrod NL Quiñones

Full Point Cebu Sports News

Aboitiz Cup kicks off

By Edri K. Aznar

Friday, December 6, 2013

AFTER a couple of natural disasters that hit the Visayas pushed back
 its opening, the 16th Aboitiz Football Cup finally kicks off this weekend 
at the Aboitiz Football pitch.

A total of 155 teams are competing in 14 divisions in Cebu’s biggest 
annual football tournament.

The divisions for this year are Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, 
Boys Under-15, Girls Under-15, Boys Under-18, Girls Under-18, 
Under-23, Inter BPO Men’s, 38-and-Above, Men’s Open and 
two new divisions – Inter BPO Ladies and Inter Company.

The champion in this year’s Men’s Open will represent Cebu in the
 PFF Smart Club championships.

The Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Boys Under-15, Girls Under -15 
and Boys Under-18 division will start today, while the Inter BPO 
Ladies, Inter BPO Mens, Inter Company,
 Under-23, Men’s Open and 38-and-Above – kicks off on Sunday.

The only Under-9 game tomorrow will be Canduman FC against 
Bright Academy B.

In the Under-11 division, Lahug FC takes on Tabor Hill FC, 
University of San Carlos (USC)-BED faces BMALV FC,
 Tabor Hill FC will play Warzhockz,
 Lahug FC-B takes on Dynamo FC, Springdale tkes on Phoenix FC.

In the Under-13 division, Center for International Education (CIE) faces off 
with Inayawan FC,Famball locks horns with Striker FC, Phoenix FC
 is facing Tabor Hill FC.

In the Boys Under-15 class, St. John Seminary will play the Talisay Raskals, 
Mactan Camellanz faces off with BMALV FC and USC-BED takes on CIE.

On the other hand, Bright Academy will face Tabor Hill FC in the 
Girls Under-15 division, 
while Abellana National School-Pomeroy will face Mactan Camellanz.

The games will start at 7:30 a.m. today and is expected to end on 
April 30.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 07, 2013.

Global dumps Cebu

By Edri K. Aznar

Thursday, December 5, 2013

DESPITE playing without some of its key players and playing under the blistering
 heat on a pitch that has seen better days, Global FC outclassed home
 team Cebu Queen City United 
(CQCU), 6-2, yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center in the second round 
of eliminations of the Philippine Football Federation Smart Cup.

“The field wasn’t in its best condition maybe because of the earthquake 
and the typhoon. But we are grateful to be here though. We had great support 
here,”said Global coach Brian Reid.

Reid and Global played in Cebu during the AFC Presidents Cup qualifiers 
last summer.

“The heat here was quite fierce and made it more difficult for both teams.
 However, we won the game pretty comfortably despite the difficult 
conditions,” he said.

After a couple of attempts, center forward Izzeldin El Habib broke the ice 
with the first goal in the 10th minute.

Queen City defended Global well but Mark Hartmann scored on a beautiful
 free kick just outside the box that grazed past the wall and into the net 
before the halftime break in the 45th minute.

Angel Guirado opened up the second half by scoring one of his three goals. 
Guirado got past porous defense of Queen City to score Global’s third goal 
in the 66th minute.

Two minutes later, Hartmann scored on another breakaway goal for a 
commanding 4-0 lead. Global started to relax and let down its guard and
 Dan Villarico capitalized on it with a 
beautiful strike just outside the box for the home team’s first goal of the 
match in the 73rd minute.

“I scolded them because they lost concentration,” said Reid after his
 team conceded a goal that could have been avoided. “It was a free shot 
and a point to lose”Guirado
 immediately retaliated and hit another goal with a nifty flick of the ball just 
three minutes after.

Joseph Rodriguez scored the second goal for the Cebuanos with a 
header from a corner kick in the 82nd minute before Guirado completed 
his hat trick a minute into injury time.

With the win, GFC advanced to the finals of the Smart Club National 
championships after topping Group E with six points. Cebu finished
 the elimination with three points.

Global missed the services of Spanish striker Rufo Sanchez, 
who went back to Spain, and Azkals midfielder Carli de Murga.

“We played an okay game despite missing Carli de Murga and 
Rufo Sanchez. We lost a few players and we weren’t in full 
strengthbut I give credit to our players,” said Reid.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 05, 2013

Aboitiz Football moved

By Edri K. Aznar

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

THE biggest football tournament in Cebu, the 16th Aboitiz Football Cup, 
won’t be kicking off this Sunday.

“The opening ceremony of the 16th Aboitiz Football Cup originally 
scheduled for Nov. 10  will be moved to a later date. 
This was the consensus reached by the Aboitiz Foundation 

and the Cebu Football Association (CFA) in view of the ongoing relief
 operations for the earthquake victims of Bohol and Cebu. 
The Aboitiz Foundation is involved in relief operations 

and the CFA supports the drive to help the victims recover quickly,” 
wrote CFA in an official statement yesterday.

“Both the Aboitiz Foundation and CFA deem it proper that out 
of delicadeza and the 

need to provide assistance to Bohol, the date of the opening of 
Cebu’s premier football tournament be moved. The new date will be
 announced next week.”

A total of 154 teams, clubs and schools have signed up in 14 different 
divisions for 

the annual football meet.

One of the highlights of the opening match this Sunday was 
supposed to be the exhibition match between elite United Football 
League clubs—Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and Green 
Archers United FC

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 06, 2013.

The Global conundrum (Let's give them hell for 90 minutes)

By Mike Limpag

IT seems, the issue of who has the right to represent which FA in a national tournament has never been resolved.  Then, it was case of players who play in the elimination round of one FA, representing another FA in the regional finals, and yet another FA in the national finals.


Worse, clubs who lose in the regional elims would just jump ship and represent another FA in the national finals.

The latest issue is Global FC, and, I have to say, all the parties involved--the PFF, CFA, Leyte and Global--come out the loser in this fiasco.

Leyte FA was first disqualified from the Smart Club Championships for fielding Global, now, Global is one win away from the second round of the Smart Club championships.  Why is that so? The loser in this scenario? Global.

When Cebu faced Hijos of Samar last October, the winner was supposed to advance to the next round as Global was already eliminated, but what most don't know is that even before the match started, Leyte FA has already written the PFF regarding its disqualification.

Cebu won, 8-1, and was set to play in the next round, announced to be in Bacolod on Nov. 6-10 and suddenly, Global comes in the picture. Loser, PFF.

To be honest, I thought the fact that the PFF let the Cebu vs. Hijos match push through meant it denied Leyte FA's appeal. And I was only reminded of that appeal when Global suddenly came in the picture and it was announced it was to face Hijos and Cebu in the Smart Club regionals. Talk about acting on something urgent very late. Loser, PFF.

Then Global routs Hijos, 23-0, and you have someone like Jason de Jong tweeting, "What the f*** was that?"  That, Jason, was a fuckin football match that wasn’t supposed to happen. Loser, Global.

Cebu, as expected, isn't taking the surprise lightly  and is questioning Global's sudden re-entry. Loser, Cebu.

And of course, for those who only knew of Global's disqualification and to suddenly read about Global's re-entry, can't help but think, "Is the PFF tilting the odds in favor of Leyte FA, which has Dan Palami as the head?" Loser, Global.

Like I said, nobody wins in this latest fiasco.

More Cebu Football 

Queen City takes on Stallion FC

By Edri K. Aznar

Saturday, October 19, 2013

CEBU Queen City United (CQCU) will face defending champion
 Stallion FC today for the lead in Group C of the UFL Cup at the 
Emperador Stadium.

“We have to play consistently. The players who didn’t perform hopefully will 
have to perform. We must first play our own game but we will make 
adjustments depending on how they (Stallion FC) play also,” CQCU coach
 Mario Ceniza told Sun.Star Cebu.

After a hot start in this year’s UFL Cup, CQCU settled to a 2-2 draw with 
Bright Star FC last Wednesday night. The Cebuanos crushed 
Philippine Air Force 3-0 in their debut match after a long hiatus from the UFL,
 the biggest football league in the country.

Two years ago, CQCU dropped a humiliating 8-0 loss to Stallion FC in the UFL. 
However, Ceniza believes that it would be different this year because 
both sides have different rosters since their last meeting.

Ceniza thinks that Stallion FC has a great offense and that his defenders 
should make a few adjustments in this match. He believes that the key to 
victory is if CQCU can control the midfield.

“We are going to match them toe-to-toe. They have good players in the
 midfield, we also have good players in the midfield. We must contain
 their offense and control possession of the ball and play our game. 
Our strength is our midfield,” he said.

CQCU will retain the top spot of Group C with a win or a draw.
 However, if Stallion FC wins, it will take the top spot.

CQCU holds the No. 1 spot of Group C with four points
, followed by Stallion FC at second place with three points. 
Bright Star FC is third with two points, Agila FC at fourth with a point
 and PAF at the last spot with no points.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 20, 2013.

Queen City United looks to clinch 2nd win

By Edri K. Aznar

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

FOLLOWING a hot start in its return to the United Football League (UFL) Cup, Cebu Queen City United (CQCU) attempts to clinch its second straight win against Bright Star FC tonight at the Emperador Stadium.

Expect a fast-paced, aggressive attack by the Cebu-based club because it is what CQCU coach Mario Ceniza believes is their key to another victory.

“They have good players with foreigners. However, I think their weakness is their fitness,” Ceniza told Sun.Star Cebu. “We will play as fast as we can from start to finish. We have the advantage in fitness because our players are very fit.”

CQCU was impressive in its opening match of the tournament, beating Philippine Air Force (PAF), 3-0.

Striker Pintho Kabulo was on top form in that match scoring two goals for CQCU.

CQCU sits at the top of Group C with three points with its win over PAF. Bright Star FC and Agila FC are tied at second place after both sides settled to a 1-1 draw. The other Group C team, defending champions Stallion FC, plays its first match also tonight against Agila FC.

The Stallion FC vs. Agila FC match is at 7 pm, followed by the match between CQCU and Bright Star FC.

Ceniza believes that each match is important because he wants to have an advantage going into the next round by clinching the No. 1 spot of Group C.

“We have to have a good result and finish in the upper half of the group because the upper half will face the lower half in the next round. We will do our best,” he said.

Ceniza said that the top three teams of Group C will move on to the next round.

The UFL Cup has five groups with a total of 23 of the best football squads in the Philippines.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 16, 2013.

Queen City eyes return to UFL

By Edri K. Aznar

Saturday, August 3, 2013

DESPITE being out of the United Football League (UFL) for months now, Cebu Queen City United (CQCU) strengthens their roster for a possible stint in the proposed UFL Cup October.
“We will return possibly in the UFL Cup in October. But that (tournament) is still subject to approval (by the UFL),” CQCU head coach Mario Ceniza said. “But as of this stage, nothing is concrete. We are also preparing for the Aboitiz Cup.”
CQCU is currently a work in progress because the team still lacks players to different positions.
“We are not yet a solid team because we still lack players. We had players that played that were under tryout,” said Ceniza. “We are happy because there are high-quality Manila teams that come here to Cebu for tune-ups.”
CQCU settled for a 1-1 draw with Division Two squad Manila All-Japan (MAJ) FC in a friendly match yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Complex football pitch. CQCU scored the opening goal in the first half before conceding an equalizer in the second half.
CQCU currently has 18 regular players. Ceniza wants to reinforce the team especially in the goalkeeper and midfield positions.
CQCU didn’t participate in the Division Two of the UFL after the Cebu-based squad’s request for home games was turned down by the league.
Ceniza said that choosing new players to add to the team’s roster is a complicated process that needs time.
“It’s a long process to bring in players. We need more games and we don’t give assurance and give answers. If you want to stick with the team, just come to practices and from there, if the team needs you, then we will bring you in,” he said.
CQCU finished third in Division 2 behind champion Pachanga and Diliman FC before sitting out Division Two last season.

Sun Star Cebu

Losing finalist wants champ disqualified

By Cheska D. Geli

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

THE University of San Carlos–Basic Education Department (USC-BED) 
wants the Dynamo FC stripped of its 11-under title for allegedly fielding 
ineligible players in the 13th Cebu Interclub Football Cup.

Dennis Peñalosa, Dynamo FC coach, did not issue a comment when 
contacted by Sun.StarCebu but instead referred the matter to the 
Cebu Amateur Football Club, which organized the tournament. However, 
CAFC president Greg Balsicas couldn’t be reached at press time.

In a letter written by Guadalupe Arganza, the wife of USC-BED coach Edwin, 
Dynamo FC reportedly fielded Loui Arreglo, Jules Eribal and James Baring
 in the tournament.

According to Arganza, the three were born in 2002 and didn’t pass the
 2003 cut-off for the division.

Arganza said it was another coach, Alex Ballesteros of Centcom 
Warshocks, who brought the three’s ineligibility to the organizers.

Ballesters said that although these players were not in the official 
lineup submitted by the team, the three were seen playing for Dynamo 
in the 11-Under division.

Arganza also said that before Ballesteros submitted a written complaint 
to CAFC, San Roque and Cebu Players 10 elite team head coach 
Totot Colina already filed a protest to the organizers after he saw 
Arreglo play. 
Colina said he knows Arreglo’s age since the boy was under him 
when he was part of the Players 10 category of the Cebu elite selection.

Because of the fielding of the three players, CAFC gave Peñalosa a 
two-game suspension, causing him to miss the semifinal and finals 
match in the 11-under division. However, he was still allowed to coach
 in the other brackets and the players under protest were allowed to play.

Arganza said the penalty is not enough.

“I believe that the team must be sanctioned or disqualfied. They do not 
deserve to be declared winners because they have a pending protest 
and they did not win by fair means. How could it be an honest mistake 
when it involved three 
over-aged players?” Arganza said in her letter.

Cebu Football Association board member Raffy Musngi said the 
protest will be tackled in the next board meeting together 
with all theprotests during the interclub.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on May 30, 2013.

QCU rules Interclub

By Cheska D. Geli

Sunday, May 26, 2013

CEBU Queen City United clobbered San Roque Rehab, 5-0, to rule the men’s open of the 13th Cebu Interclub Football Cup yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The game opened with an exchange of attacks between the two teams with Ariel Cahilig of CQCU shooting wide in the first minute, while San Roque’s Epifanio Ynot hit the post in the third minute.

San Roque also had two close chances from Harry Bordalba, whose 22nd minute 
attempt was collected by keeper Charles Villarta and another in the 26th hit 
Villarta’s knee.

In the 41st minute, CQCU’s Samson Olaniyi beat San Roque keeper 
Jade Recaplaza for an tap in and a 1-0 lead at half-time.

A determined CQCU continued to push in the second half and took 
advantage of the collapse of San Roque, which defeated CQCU 
in the group stage.

In the 58th minute, Olaniyi stole the ball from defender Wilford Sabella 
and connected with Cahilig to double the lead.

Jade Paghubasan scored the third goal from the left flank 
before he exited the game in
the 76th minute and was replaced by Pyntho Rabulo.

And just two minutes in, Rabulo introduced himself to the San Roque 
defense with a a beautiful cross to Olaniyi for the fourth goal.

Jojo Rodriguez, who came in for Cahilig, also made his own goal in the 
90th minute for the final count.

This is the third championship title for CQCU, which also defended its 
Aboitiz Men’s Open and won the Bro Football Festival. 
They took home P40,000 while San Roque Rehab received P10,000.

“The team will take a break. We will rest and recover until there’s 
another tournament, hopefully held outside Cebu,” said head coach 
Mario Ceniza.

In the 40-above division, Erco dominated Hiroshi FC, 4-0, to win the
 P10,000 pot money.

The goals came from Nelson Camargo, Glenn Ramos, Jerry Aquino 
and Gregorio Guiuan.In the 18-Under, goals from Miguel Kwan and 
Marcus Congmon lifted Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu over 
Abellana National School, 2-1, for the title.

Erco’s Bro Nationals beat Canduman for the 15-under title, 3-0, 
with Glenn Thomas Ramos, Harritz Libatug and Agustin Roa scoring.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 27, 2013