|
Azkals in Cebu Inter-Club? |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 18 March 2008 |
By Jack Biantan
LONDON - ORGANIZERS of the Cebu National Inter-Club championships will invite the RP national men’s team to see action in the weeklong tournament set on April 27-May 4 in Cebu city. Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC) president and Queen city United coach Richard Montayre said that the presence of the Azkals will definitely raise the level of competition in the weeklong competition. He added that they are finalizing the teams from Mindanao and Visayas this week and next week, they will finalize the teams from Luzon. Montayre, who is also a strong contender for the Cebu Football Association (CFA) presidential race said that after the CFA elections, they will formalize their invitation of the Azkals. `As of the moment, there are no officials in the CFA yet so we can not send an invitation to the PFF to allow the Azkals to play in our tournament’, he said. Montayre also said that the tournament will be a good tune-up for the Azkals before they will compete in the Asian Challenge Cup elimination tournament in the middle of May in Iloilo.
`We will see how prepared the Azkals will be, and if they are ready for the tougher competitions ahead in Iloilo’, he said. Five titles are at stake in the weeklong tournament, the Men’s Open, 38 and above, Ladies Open, 15 Under and 12 Under. So far teams from Bacolod city, San Carlos city, Cagayan de Oro city, Tacloban city, Ormoc city, Masbate, Davao city and Pagadian city have already confirmed their participation. Playing venues will be the Abellana National School field, University of San Carlos Talamban Campus field, Springdale field in Lahug, San Roque field in Mandaue. The Don Bosco Boys Home field in Lilo-an is the reserved field. Cash prizes and trophies will be at stake for the winners in the Men’s Open, 38 and above, and the Ladies Open. Football kits are at stake in the 12 Under and 15 Under. It will be winner take all competition with the champion in the Men’s Open taking home P40,000, 38 and Above P15,000 and P15,000 for the Ladies Open. The Cebu Catholic TV will cover the tournament. So far Boysen Paints have already confirmed their sponsorship while Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola are still bidding which one of them will get the exclusive sponsorship of Cebu’s biggest 11-aside football competition this year.
|