CFA toughens up

TO AVOID a repeat of the free-for-all last year, the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) will separate the players bench from the crowd in this Sunday's Aboitiz League at the San Roque football grounds.

"We will strictly implement the technical area (rule) to segregate the crowd from the players," CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said.

The rule limits access to the technical area to players, coaches and tournament officials.

Last year, there was no technical area in the venue, and the people who watched the games sometimes sat near or with the players.

A nasty fight prematurely ended the finals match last year between Hiroshi FC and Exas resulting to the suspension of seven players.

On the other hand, the CebuFA will also inform the coaches of the various offenses and the corresponding punishments listed in the Philippine Football Federation guidelines.

"We will show them the catalogue so that they will know the consequences if ever they will walk out or what," Maximo said.

Maximo said that the coaches know of the guidelines but seems to take them for granted "since it was not implemented."

As for the security in San Roque, Maximo is coordinating with the newly-revived San Roque Football Club for their help.

"This is also a challenge to the San Roque community, to prove to Cebu that it is a safe venue," Maximo said.

Concerns have been raised by some players as San Roque has had a history of violent fights involving players and the crowd.

This Sunday, the 1st Aboitiz Men's League will kick off with two matches in the two divisions. FC Inter Cebu opens its second-division campaign against fellow newcomer Wilde Cebu. In Division A, the University of San Jose Recoletos Alumni will face the Juvio Magone FC.