Cebu Football

A "CLERICAL error" rendered the weeks of tough and hard training by the Philippine Women's Under 19 team, formed to represent the country in the Asian Football Confederation U 19 championships in Thailand this March.

The Philippine Football Federation missed the Aug. 31, 2005 deadline of submission of entries and had its final appeal denied by the AFC just yesterday.

According to a chronology of events leading to the fiasco sent by AFC Women's Committee deputy chair, Cristy Ramos-Jalasco to Sun.Star, the women's team was formed in September 2005, or days after the deadline passed and were still undergoing training until yesterday. The PFF sent their entry form last Jan. 3, which was promptly rejected by the AFC as it was passed the deadline.

The report also said that the PFF got the first invitation last Feb. 28 and another letter asking to confirm their participation on Aug. 12. Both invitations indicated the Aug. 31 deadline.

PFF president Johnny Romualdez told national papers that "it was a mistake by one of our staff. An apology has been made and we are still trying to join by contacting the highest levels at AFC."

In an interview yesterday, Domeka Geramindi, PFF general-secretary told Sun.Star, "I have nothing more to add, I think our president (Johnny Romualdez) has said everything." Asked to confirm it the PFF sticks to the "clerical error" reason, Geramindi said, "Yes, because that's what really happened."

Geramindi also said they were currently evaluating what to do with the team and will know by Friday what to do with girls, He also said he just got the fax from AFC rejecting their appeal to join the event and was set to inform the players after yesterday's training.

For her part, Ramos said the one responsible for the mistake must be punished. "Heads must roll. It (AFC U19) is a major tournament, it serves as the Asia qualifier for the Fifa Word U20," the former first daughter told Sun.Star.

Ramos also said that she checked the PFF secretariat if there was a letter of intent or entry form submitted to AFC before the Aug. 31 deadline and said, "No document was found, no official entry form. Regardless if it is a clerical (error) it is still the responsibility of the PFF."

I'll be posting some stuff tomorrow. Will have to wait till it comes out in the papers right?

hehehehe

As to the one I'll post here, I'll include some tidbits that was not in the report.

THE Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) will send a youth coach for a one week training in Fukushima Japan by the Japan Football Association (JFA) on March.

“The course involves theoretical and practical sessions, coaching practice
and written test. It is designed for coaches handling players in the “golden age", U-12. JFA National Coaching Staff will conduct this course and successful participants will be given JFA "C" License,” CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said in an email to Sun.Star.

According to the CebuFa they will nominate the candidates to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and each candidate must “actively involved in the development within the CebuFA, can read and write in English and must be physically fit.

The PFF Technical Development committee will deliberate on the credentials of all nominees before forwarding them to the JFA. The JFA, which will shoulder the accommodation, meals and airport transfers, will just inform the PFF if the nominated coach can participate as slots in the seminar are limited.

According to Maximo, this is one benefits for coaches who choose to affiliate with CebuFA and the PFF.

Meanwhile, the University of San Jose Recoletos stumbled in its bid to join the national finals after losing its two matches in the PFF regional eliminations in Dumaguete City over the weekend.

USJ-R, which earned the right after both Hiroshi and Crazy Horse were barred from participating, lost to Dumaguete City, 4-1 in its first game and had to beat Bacolod City, by six goals in its second to advance to the nationals.

However, against Bacolod, who had Southeast Asian Games veteran Arnie Pasinabo in its lineup, they fell short, dropping a close, 1-0 match.

Division B W D L GD Points
Metropolitan FC 4 1 +36 12
Queen City FC 4 1 +28 12
Wild Cebu FC 4 1 +25 1
SRFC 4 1 +22 12
CSCST 1 4 -1 3
FC Inter Cebu 1 4 -24 3
FC Inter Lapu-Lapu 6 -86 0

IT was a day of blow outs in the Aboitiz League Div. B yesterday as two teams got buried by at least 15 goals as four teams scramble for the two slots to Div. A next season.

Wild eCebu started the rout with a 20-0 whipping of FC Inter Lapu-lapu and Metropolitan FC followed suit with a 17-2 win over FC Inter Cebu while San Roque FC scored a 5-1 win over Cebu State College of Science and Technology.

The three winners along with idle Queen City United now have identical 12 points on a 4-1 record. Only the top two teams in Div. B will be earn slots to Div. A. However, if Hiroshi pushes through with its boycott of all Cebu Football Association events, it could mean another team will get a spot.

With their rout yesterday, Metropolitan is now on top of the standings, just eight goals ahead of Queen City, while Wild Cebu is third with 25 goals, three ahead of San Roque FC.

On the other hand, FC Lapu-Lapu languished at the bottom with six losses and a staggering 86 goals conceded or almost 15 goals per game.

Rene Inoc scored five goals for Metropolitan yesterday, while Danilo Juesan had four and George Doromal had three.

Eddie Ybañez had five goals for Wilde Cebu while Ronald Canas had four and Pocholo Ryan Lanza scored three.

San Roque got its goals from Ramie Catrienen, Jovie Bordalba, Sheldon Colina, Romeo Bordardor and Eleazar Toledo while Romeo Justo scored the lone goal for CSCST.

Meanwhile, in the Red Ribbon 16 Under tournament, the favorites also scored easy routs in their first game.

Defending champion Paref Springdale blanked Cebu Inmaculada Concepcion, 7-0. while Hiroshi defeated Don Bosco Boys Home 2-0 and Don Bosco Technological Center routed FC Inter Cebu, 7-0.

Evanjames Mendoza scored a hat trick for Springdale in their easy win, while Francis Navaja and Miguel Subang scored both goals for Hiroshi and Bernard Francis Buot scored three for DBTC.

CEBU International School (CIS) stumbled in its quest to win the International Schools Athletic Conference (Isac) boys football crown as the injury-plagued team lost to Brent Baguio, 1-3, in yesterday morning’s semifinals.

Only nine players showed up for CIS at the start of the game, with the rest nursing various injuries.

"Grabe gyud tong three games namo yesterday (Saturday) and slide pa kaayo ang ground, na injured ako players, and worse, we had no substitutes," CIS head coach Joshua Fegidero said.

Last Saturday, CIS played and won all its three games to finish second in the six team event behind European International School (EIS, with a 4-1 record. Their lone defeat was against EIS, 2-1 in their first game. Saturday's steady downpour also rendered the grass muddy and slippery.

Among the players missing yesterday were Miguel Atienza, and defensive cog Peter Watson while Rafa Aboitiz played with an injury.

“Gamit si Peter sa depensa, while Rafa wasn’t really much of a factor in the game,” said Fegidero, a former RP team player.

In the semifinal, CIS found themselves trailing 3-0 in the first half and wasn't able to string a few passes to be a threat offensively.

"Nau-nahan mi nila, so we played defensive already," Fegidero said. Michael Sharpe managed to sneak a goal in the final 10 minutes of the game, but it was already too late for CIS as Brent Baguio went on to the finals, where they lost 1-5 to EIS.

"Sayang, kaya tani ang EIS," Fegidero said.

CIS managed to salvage third place, winning 5-4 on shoot outs after Brent Subic bungled a shot. For the Isac meet, organizers decided the contest for third place be a shoot-out to save time as some of the players had to catch their planes back home.

After their boys team's disappointment, the CIS girls will have their chance to make up for it when they play in the Isag girls football event in Baguio this March.

DESPITE horrible playing conditions, the Cebu International School (CIS) managed to sweep its three matches yesterday to finish second in the boys football event of the International Schools Athletic Conference (Isac) at the CIS

CIS finished second to European International School (EIS) with four wins against a loss, while Brent Subic and Brent Baguio took the next two spots. CIS will next face Baguio in today's semifinals while EIS will face Subic.

Yesterday's downpour turned the greenfield into a muddy plain, resulting to players colliding with each other as they slip.

"It was very slippery and I got four or five players injured because of that," CIS coach Jun Fegidero said.

Though they are yet to face Baguio in the semifinals, Fegidero expects a rematch with EIS in the finals. They earlier lost to EIS, 2-1 in their first game. If they get to the finals, CIS and EIS will play two straight games today and though Fegidero is concerned about his injured players he remains optimistic.

"Kaya na ni, everything will change in the finals," Fegidero said.

In its first game yesterday, Michael Sharpe scored the lone goal in its 1-0 win over Subic, but their offense got into high gear in their second match, defeating Brent Bagiou, 5-2.

After taking a 2-1 lead, Paolo Cases made it a two-goal cushion after converting a penalty after Andre Antigua got down while gutsy keeper Mike Ross also stopped a Bagiou striker on a one-on-one situation to preserve the count before the half.

In the second half, Sharpe tapped in perfect cross by Delvon Kim before Kim banged in the final goal of the match.

CIS was just as impressive in its final match, beating Southville, 8-2 to get the second spot.

Meanwhile, the CIS girl's basketball team was not as lucky as it dropped its first four of its five matches to bow out of contention for the top spot. They lost to Brent Subic, Brent Bagiou, Mindanao Christian Academy and Southville while drawing its match against British School Manila. (photo by Allan Cuizon)

People, got this from an email

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

28 February 2005

Dato' Peter Velappan, General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), writes a letter of invitation (Ref. No: WF-022) to participate in the AFC U19 Women's Championship 2006 and also a letter of invitation to host this event (Ref. No: WF-023) to the general secretaries of 22 national football associations, including the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). The event is tentatively scheduled on 19-30 April 2006. The AFC faxes both letters to PFF on 28 February 2005.

The letters clearly state that the deadline for submission of entries is not later than 31 August 2005. Attached also are the official entry forms. At the bottom of the entry forms, again the deadline of submission of entries of not later than 31 August 2005 is indicated. The date is in all capital letters and is even underlined.

PFF President Johnny Romualdez acknowledges the receipt of the letters on 01 March with a marginal notation. PFF General Secretary Domeka Garamendi also acknowledges receipt of the letter with his initials, although no date of receipt is written beside his initials.

12 August 2005

Dato' Paul Mony Samuel, AFC Deputy General Secretary, sends a letter to the national associations of the AFC (Fax No. 1889/CD/2005) to confirm the participation of their respective women's U19 teams. Again, the letter states that the deadline for submission of entries is not later than 31 August 2005. PFF receives the letter on 12 August 2005.

Attached with the letter is the official entry form, where again the deadline for submission of entries of not later than 31 August 2005 is indicated and highlighted at the bottom of the page.

Romualdez acknowledges the receipt of the letter on 15 August with a marginal notation. Garamendi also acknowledges receipt of the letter with his initials, although no date of receipt is written beside his initials.

September 2005

The PFF president instructs the PFF Women's Committee, chaired by Ms. Linda Schaefer, to take charge of the formation of the RP U19 women's team, to include the selection of the coach and players and to oversee their needs.

The PFF appoints Joel Villarino as head coach of the RP U19 women's team, Dodjie Locsin as assistant coach, and Pedro Cecilio, goalkeeping coach.

The PFF Women's Committee proceeds with organizing the team. But the committee is unaware that the deadline set by the AFC is 31 August 2005 since no information had been given to the committee.

12 December 2005

Ms. Schaefer writes to the provincial football associations of Cagayan de Oro, Negros Occidental, Davao, Laguna, and others inviting their players to try out for the RP U19 women's team on 17-23 December 2005 at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. PFF shoulders the transportation and lodging of the players for the duration of the try-outs.

Aside from Ms. Schaefer, Romualdez also signs the letters.

17-23 December 2005

The training camp proceeds as scheduled at the Philsports Complex, Pasig City. Thirty-eight (38) players try out for the RP U19 women's team.

27 December 2005
Romualdez holds a meeting with the PFF Women's Committee and RP U19 women's team coaching staff to determine the final line-up of the team. The final line-up is not determined since some players are students from schools participating in the UAAP football tournament, and other former national players did not participate in the camp. Romualdez schedules another meeting at 10:00 a.m., 03 January 2006 to finally determine the composition of the team and to confirm the Philippines' participation in the AFC U19 Women's Championship 2006. He mentions that the deadline for the confirmation of entries is also on 03 January 2006.

03 January 2006

After the meeting with the Women's Committee in the morning, the PFF writes to the AFC to confirm its participation in the AFC U19 Women's Championship 2006.

The AFC apparently rejects the entry of the Philippines for missing the 31 August 2005 deadline. The PFF writes a letter of appeal to the AFC to reconsider their late entry. The PFF does not say anything about this situation either to the Women's Committee or to the RP U19 women's team.

17 January 2006

The PFF re-faxes to the AFC the letter of appeal it wrote on the 03 January 2006.

20 January 2006

The AFC sends a letter through the PFF to Ms. Cristina Ramos, deputy chairman of the AFC Women's Committee, to inform her of the final fixtures of the AFC U19 Women's Championship 2006. The letter indicates that Thailand is hosting Group 2 (ASEAN) with the host, Singapore, Myanmar, and Australia competing on 05-09 March 2006.

Ms. Ramos asks Ms. Jen Hernandez, PFF secretarial staff, why the Philippines in not included in the ASEAN group. Hernandez says that the AFC did not include the Philippines among the competitors.

Ms. Ramos talks to Garamendi regarding this situation. All he says is that "it won't happen again."

25 January 2006

Still not fully aware of the situation, Coach Joel Villarino continues with the team training. Under cold and rainy conditions, only five players attend training. Mr. Garamendi talks to the players and the coaching staff after the training to explain that the PFF is still trying to appeal to the AFC to reconsider the Philippine entry. He says that the PFF forgot to send the entry to the AFC on time.

WITH all the coup rumors flying around the country, there's another rumor, but its not about ousting GMA, its about ousting the Cebu Football Association.

Three groups are apparently planning to create a new football association. Hmmm...interesting.

Interesting indeed. I wonder how will the CebuFA or Philippine Football Federation react to this.

Stay tuned.

The Philippines may miss the AFC U19 qualifications in Thailand, not because of a lack of preparation, or funds or team, but because the PFF forgot, yes they forgot, to submit an entry form.

Click this link.

http://news.inq7.net/sports/index.php?index=1&story_id=64270

Now, you've seen everything.

AFTER a sluggish start, the Cebu International School (CIS) finally showed its full strength with a 5-1 whipping of Mindanao Christian Academy (Mica) in the first day of the International School Athletic Conference (Isac) boys football at the CIS field.

In its first game, CIS lost 1-2, with Michael Sharpe scoring the lone goal, to European International School, before coming back in the afternoon match against.

"They had a tough time adjusting with the game, but in the second half and in the second game, they were already playing well," CIS coach and former national team member Joshua Fegidero said.

CIS showed no sign of its early loss in its game against Mica, which earlier whipped Southville 5-1 as Sharpe connected with Jerry Lee in the first two minutes. However, Lee failed to hit the target. Lee got another chance when his shot richoceted off the keeper a few minutes later, but the ball hit the side bar.

In the 12th minute, Lee made sure his third try will count as he banged in a shot from left flank for their first goal of the match before Paolo Cases added another with a nifty move in the 17th. Cases chipped the ball over the defender then leftfooted it to the lower corner.

CIS, who is playing with Mike Ross at goal after Miguel Red dislocated a finger in the Thirsty Cup, scored two more goals in the half before Sharpe punctuated the match with a strike from midfield for its fifth goal.

CIS, which is aiming to win the football event, will play Brent Subic, Brent Baguio and Southville today and Fegidero will be more worried about fatigue than the opposition.

"I've seen the other teams, and I'm confident we can beat them," Fegidero said.

To allow for multiple games in a day, Isac has modified the rules, allowing for a flying substitution and limiting the match to 30 minutes per half.

Meanwhile, their girls basketball team will also play four matches today, against British School Manila, Southville, Brent Manila and European International School.

THE CEBU International School (CIS) is ready to defend its turf as it host the second tournament of this year's International Schools Athletic Conference (Isac) starting today.

Seven other schools will be also coming for the boy's football and girl's high school basketball, which will be played over the weekends.

This is the second tournament, and the Isac season closes out this March with girl's football and boy's basketball in Baguio City. Each school earn points in every tournament, which are then added after the final event to determine the over-all title holder.

Last year, CIS tied Brent Laguna for the over-all title, despite having a fraction of Brent's population.

Other schools joining the three-day event are European International School, Southvile IS, Brent South, Brent Bagiou, Brent Subic, Brent Laguna, Mindanao First Christian Academy, and British School Manila.

"Actually, I expect us to perform better this year, the kids are a year smarter and older," CIS athletic director Brian Bedford said.

Expected to banner the CIS boys football team are Michael Sharpe, Red Miguel and Paolo Cases, who also play for San Roque FC in the Aboitiz Men's League Div. B, while Mara Reina will trade her football cleats for her sneakers as she joins the girl's basketball team.

The CIS boys are also fresh from winning the Boys 17 football crown in the Thirsty Cup last Jan. 8, capping a string of four straight Boys 17 titles in Cebu.

"I expect the boys to win the football event while I expect the girls to place with in the top three," Bedford said.

Former national team member and Tiger Cup veteran Joshua Fegidero of Bacolod will handle the coaching duties for the team.

MIFFED by the Cebu Football Association's (CebuFA) decision to bar them form playing in the Philippine Football Federation regional eliminations, Aboitiz League Division A champion Hiroshi FC will no longer join any CebuFA-sanctioned tournament the rest of the year.

Aside from its senior's team, some of whose players got into a fight with Crazy Horse in the Thirsty Cup, Hiroshi also has a 35-above team, and youth teams as young as 10-under.

"Hiroshi FC will not join any CebuFA-sanctioned tournament this year in all age categories. HFC is composed of more or less 150 players," read a text message from Hiroshi goalkeeper Frederick Alazas.

Asked for comment, CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said, "I refuse to comment on that until CebuFA will receive an official letter from them. They have a team in Red Ribbon that will play this Saturday."

Alazas also confirmed they have a team for the Red Ribbon, and that the kids have appealed the decision not to join any CebuFA tournament. They will discuss the issue with the kids today.

If Hiroshi pushes through with its plan, it may not be able to defend all of its seven titles it won last year, including the inaugural Aboitiz League Division A.

It also won the Cebu International School Cup and the Cebu Inter-Club Invitational last summer.

After the Thirsty Cup brawl, four Hiroshi players got banned for a year, while two others in its team got a two-year ban, for getting involved in their second brawl.

Last year, they were involved in a similar incident in the Aboitiz Champions League final, but they were allowed to leave and play in the regional eliminations.

HIROSHI FC had its appeal to play in the Philippine Football Federation regional eliminations this weekend denied by the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) disciplinary committee.

The board met last night to discuss the appeal of Hiroshi, which got punished for its involvement in a brawl last Jan. 8 in the Thirsty Cup semifinal round.

Though disciplinary committee chairman Mark Bretherton is set to issue an official statement, Sun.Star Cebu learned of the decision from Frederick Alazas, Hiroshi FC's goalkeeper.

"The board has decided to maintain the original decision. Hiroshi will not play in the PFF regional games, thank you for your inputs. We sincerely hope you will maintain your interest in football," said a text message forwarded by Alazas to Sun.Star. Alazas said the text message was from Bretherton.

Even if it asks for another reconsideration, time is running out for Hiroshi as the regional elimination starts on Friday.

After the Thirsty Cup brawl, which involved Hiroshi and Crazy Horse FC, the CebuFA board suspended four Hiroshi players for a year and also meted out a two-year ban on two players, aside from preventing Hiroshi to play in the regional.

Hiroshi earned the right to represent Cebu in the regional elimination after topping the Aboitiz League last December, ahead of first runner-up Crazy Horse FC, which was also barred from joining the regional games.

The University of San Jose-Recoletos Alumni, which placed third in the Aboitiz League, will represent Cebu in Dumaguete.

Hiroshi coach Eddie Buot told Sun.Star in an interview they have accepted the players' punishment but called the additional punishment on Hiroshi as an "overkill."

"All this time, we were looking forward to play in the regional finals," said Alazas, who did not take part in the brawl as an injury early in the Thirsty Cup placed the former national youth team member on wheelchair.

"I informed (CebuFA board member) Jackie (Lotzoff) that this will greatly hurt the team," said Alazas. "It's such a waste since the team has been preparing hard for the regional games."

*(been meaning to post this one, never found the time)

IT was a sight I have never seen, a sight, I long to see again.

Twenty thousand football fans (30,000 by some estimates) screaming till they can
scream no more.

Chanting.

Cheering.

Shouting.

As one.

For that 90 minutes, nobody cared about Garci, nobody cared about the stupid squabbles up north.

We were winning, 4-2, against Cambodia.

Before the Southeast Asian Games (Seag), the most I’ve seen at a football match was two hundred. During the Seag, there were probably hundreds crammed at the gates, stretching their necks to see the action. People climbed trees, fire trucks and the gates itself to see action. That’s how jampacked the stadium was that day, Nov. 25, 2004.

It was a day, I stopped becoming a sportswriter.

Getting assigned to cover football in the Seag was a dream come true. It was akin to a politician, getting the key to the national bank, or Michael Jackson, getting the key to the Fountain of Youth.

During the first match of the Philippines -- named the Askals owing to the scraps it gets as support from the government – I had difficulty taking down notes.

During that Cambodia game, I couldn’t. My hands were shaking before the game started and taking down notes was impossible. Still, I can still recall every minute of that game – except for the times that I was screaming or cursing that referee.

We were so crammed in the stadium that the area for the media was occupied by the fans. Still, it didn’t bother me, so much the better to be beside rabid fans.

Some of my colleagues cried foul though, calling the organizers that the media area was being overrun. I didn’t mind them. These primadonnas who never cared about football before the Seag – and who wouldn’t write about it if not for a brief visit by Ninoy Aquino or Tito Vic and Joey in their pockets – didn’t deserve special treatment. The fans deserve special treatment.

When Cambodia leveled the match at 2-all with less than 10 minutes to go – we were silent. But we all knew we would win. I knew that. Every fan knew that.

And so we did. Philip Greatwitch, a Filipino-Brit, scored the go ahead goal with four minutes to play – pandemonium in the stands was an understatement. Then a home-based player, Emilio Caligdong, capped the night with a lovelier goal – a chip just inside the box, in the 90th minute, and everybody’s chants and screams was drowned by the person next to you.

I remembered saying, “It couldn’t get better than this.”

After the final whistle, the players ran to the stands, while one grabbed a flag and run with it -- it is a sight that you just can’t put into words.

It is a sight to behold, that night, we were one.

That night, everything seemed possible.

THEY were playing a crucial match and won easily, 7-1, but yesterday, the only thing in the minds of the San Roque FC players when they played FC Inter Cebu was this -- did Manny Pacquiao win?

Out of the 25 players in their squad, only 13 showed up for the match.

Ang uban nagpabilin, nagtanaw Manny," said Eleazar Toledo, who scored a goal yesterday but made a bigger killing on the fight, winning P5000 on bets.

Worse, one of their defender abandoned his position in the middle of the game, to get updates on the Pacquiao fight. SRFC player Paolo Cases's dad brought a radio with him in the match.

"Murag amaw, mugawas sa field, gi-biyaan jud ang iyang posisyon kay nangita'g update," Toledo said.

Other scorers in their game were Anthony Colina (19th), Romeo Bordador (22nd), Darwin Bordalba (26th), Berto Eco (67th), Jovie Bordalba (88th) and John Mayol (89th)

It was the same problem for Queen City United, which defeated Metropolitan 4-2, though coach Mario Ceniza isn't sure if Pacquiao is the reason.

"Out of 24, only 17 showed up, we missed most of our starters," Ceniza said, "some of our players are also injured, so I'm not sure if its because of the fight."

Levi Bajarias scored first for Queen City in the 13th before Rene Inoc leveled the count a minute later and Ronald Loayon made it 2-1 for Metropolitan in the 23rd.

Rey Baring leveled the count in the 69th before Dexter Arrojado scored two late goals in the 86th and 87th for their fourth win in five games.

Meanwhile in the first game, three Cebu State College of Science and Technology scored a hat trick for their 12-1 win over FC inter Lapu-lapu. Jun Clark Lacia, Randy Vercide, and Romel Justo Rameo Vercide scored thrice whileJoseph Omiping had two in their easy rout.

The three clubs win also complicated the standings as the three and Wilde Cebu are now in contention for the top two spots in the Division with either a 4-1 or 3-1 card.

The top two teams in the Division will be promoted to Div. A to replace bottom two, Danao FC and Juvio Magone.ML

WHEN 22-year-old Joanne Lardizabal Ignacio started playing football, on the prodding of a PE instructor at UP Manila in early 2001, someone told her to pick up another sport, saying she was “too lampa to be good at the game.”

Fast forward a few years later, Ignacio, who has a BA Broadcast Communication (cum laude mind you) degree at UP Diliman, got her sweetest revenge, the obnoxious futbolero had to give her the trophy for winning the MVP award in a tournament.

Still, success didn’t come easy for Ignacio, as once in a football game, the ref stopped her – pointing to her watch.

“I guess I wasn't paying enough attention - I thought he was asking for the time! So I told him what time it was, and then everyone started laughing! Turns out he was telling me to take my watch off before he resumed the game,” she said.


At 5-foot-4, Ignacio played all positions in the game except tending the goal – the changes due to her fast improvements in the game (for those who ever entertained such position-intellect theories, here is your proof)

She started as a defender (dumb ones they all are, ey?) “then I became a sweeper when my long balls improved” (kick, aim later) but “when my long balls improved (she could now aim at someone) I became a midfielder.

Best part. “Then right midfielder when I could dribble a bit. I now play center forward or right wing”, depending on the composition of the team. (Of course, every one on a football team knows that the strikers are the prima donnas of the team)

After finishing her degree at UP last April 2005 (why do they always hold their graduations on April?), she now plays once or twice a week, but makes sure to juggle for an hour every day, aside from her daily weight routine.

“To add power to my shots,” Ignacio says.

Pity the poor keeper who stands between her and the goal.

Aside from the football jaunts in crowded Metro Manila, she has been to Laguna for the Labay Cup and Dumaguete for the University games but added: “I went there train with/support my UP Dil teammates, I didn't play in the actual tournament.”

Right now, Ignacio is on the verge of getting a hosting job at Game Plan, something we futboleros and junkies out there have been wanting for a long time – someone who knows, love, and play the game – to replace those pretty-faces-but-don’t-know-a-thing-about-sports.

Football, could get its much needed mileage when she gets the job, so, let's help a fellow football fan.

She needs our help, vote for her, here’s how:text (left bracket) GP REACT JOANNE (right bracket) to 2331 for globe/sun and 231 for smart/talkntext/addict mobile =)

people for more details on how to vote for joane click the link below.It seems the template doesnt allow the use of the bracket symbol...hence the words above

http://www.philfootball.info/forum/index.php?a=topic&t=344

THE CEBU Football Association Disciplinary Committee is set to meet with Hiroshi and Crazy Horse officials regarding their recent sanctions after the two teams got into a brawl in the Thirsty Cup Men's Open semifinal round last Jan. 8.

"I expect they will also bring their appeal with them," CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said, "I will just let Mark Bretherton (Disciplinary Committee chairman) preside over the meeting."

In their decision last week, the CebuFA said "team officials, manager, coach and captain from both clubs are to be summoned to a meeting with the CebuFA shortly. The CebuFA is to appeal to both teams for a better level of sportsmanship and goodwill during all future football tournaments. Both teams will be expected to sign an agreement that states future repetition of "free for all" situations by any team will result in a lifetime ban for the club concerned and the players involved."

On the other hand, Hiroshi FC head coach Eddie Buot and team owner Harou Iwanaga are expected to appeal the board decision, barring them from the Philippine Football Federation regional eliminations set Jan 27-29 in Dumaguete City.

Aside from suspension on their six players, Hiroshi also got barred from playing in the regional finals, a decision Buot calls as "overkill."

"This (board meeting) is a good development," Buot said, "basi pareha napud ni sa una nga last minute ma-iron out."

Last year, after Hiroshi got into a brawl with Exas in the final of the Aboitiz League final, they also had a meeting with the CebuFA the night before they were set to leave for the regional finals.

Meanwhile, Hiroshi goalkeeper, Frederick Alazas, who was on a wheel chair nursing an injury at the time of the brawl, lamented the CebuFA's failure to hand them a copy of their suspension.

"We need the papers so we could act on our appeal," said Alazas.

THE Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) has moved the Red Ribbon Under-14 tournament from today to Jan. 28 due to the unavailability of the players in the nine-team event.

“Four schools begged off because they are having exams,” CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said yesterday.

The postponement was agreed during the team managers’ meeting Thursday night, when the draw for the tournament was held.

The teams are divided into three brackets with defending champion, Paref Springdale, and favorites Hiroshi and Don Bosco College, spread in the three groups. The top team in each group plus the best second placer will play in the semifinal round.

To add flavor to the event, which the CebuFA will use as its talent-identification program for the Cebu City team in the International Children’s Games in July, individual awards will be given.

They will hand out the Most Valuable Player, Best Striker, Best Defender, Best Midfielder and Best Goalkeeper awards at the end of the tournament.

Meanwhile, after the Cebu leg, a national Red Ribbon Festival is being proposed in Manila at the end of March.

“This is still a proposal and it will only be a seven-a-side festival type because of budgetary constraints,” Maximo said.

If it pushes through, the teams will have to shoulder their transportation and accommodation.

Paging mr Jonathan Maximo...daghan nag request foto sa imong PaBol girls..hehehe

ONE of the biggest casualties in the Thirsty Cup brawl between Hiroshi FC and Crazy Horse FC is Joshua Fegidero, one of Bacolod City's most loved football sons.

Fegidero, a product of West Negros College and former national team player, got a one-year ban for his part in the brawl, and the news has also hit his home city.

Fegidero, along with teammates Gary Panagsagan, Francis Parampan and Hiroshi's Harold Buot, Richard Romero and Rommel Cuizon got suspended for a year, while Ariel Cahilig and Vermonel Resuena got two-year suspensions.

The Crazy Horse striker said they were just forced to retaliate during the brawl because they were the ones attacked.

"I pulled Gary (Panagsagan) aside to protect him and backed away from them. I backed away too far that from Pitch 3, we reached Pitch 1," said Fegidero.

Fegidero plans to appeal the one-year suspension.

"Sayang, I can't play in the Aboitiz League, and then there's a coming tournament in San Roque. I can't play anywhere else because of this," he said.

Meanwhile, the suspension has reached Bacolod and the "City of Smiles" isn't happy.

"When I told the USLS coach about it, he was shocked. He asked 'What? What for?'" said Anthony Joseph Ascalon, a football fan in Bacolod City.

Fegidero was invited to join University of St La Salle (USLS) in representing Bacolod City in the Philippine Football Federation regional eliminations in Dumaguete City later this month.

However, Fegidero declined since he will coach Cebu International School in a tournament in the same weekend.

Ascalon said the Fegideros are well loved and respected in the football community, and are known for their skills.

"If you play against a team that has a Fegidero in its line-up, ma-kulbaan gid ka ya (you'll feel uneasy)," Ascalon said. "I've heard and read in the newspapers about the Fegideros, so before I started playing (in 2002), I knew for a fact that these brothers are very good in football."

The Pabol girls...off the field(o, kinsa to nagrequest pic sa pabol girls, naa na jud)


The young keeper and the Younghusbands


Me and my two escort girls...hehehe


Painted faces at the Paglaum Park and Stadium. 23rd Seag Kadto ko to ya!


Fly with me

ASIDE from the two year ban on two players, the Cebu Football Association disciplinary committee also handed out one-year ban to six other players involved in the Hiroshi FC - Crazy Horse brawl during the Thirsty Cup semifinal round last Jan. 8 at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field.

Told to sit out for a year were Hiroshi's Harold Buot, Rommel Cuizon, Richard Romero and Gary Panagsagan, Francis Parampan and Joshua Fegidero of Crazy Horse.

The board also banned for two years, Hiroshi's Ariel Cahilig and Vermonil Resuena as it was already their second offense.

However, the board also decided not to let Hiroshi and Crazy Horse represent Cebu in the regional eliminations set Jan. 27-29 in Dumaguete City, giving the University of San Jose-Recoletos, third in last year's Aboitiz League Div. A, the chance to represent Cebu. Crazy Horse was second ranked in the league and could have represented Cebu.

The board also fined Crazy Horse, P10,000 and Hiroshi, P15,000.

That decision, didn't sit well with Hiroshi's Eddie Buot.

"I accept the penalty on the players because they committed infractions, however, its not good to punish those who were not involved," Eddie Buot said, "Gipatay mi nila kaduha."

Buot will appeal the decision once team owner, Harou Iwanaga arrives.

Buot said even without the five players, Hiroshi can still field a competitive team in the regionals.

On the other hand, Maximo said the decision was based on the Philippine Football Federation Code of Discipline, which stipulate the minimum punishment for violent conduct at a one-year-ban.

"It was really a painful decision to make," Maximo said. "They can always make an appeal."

The decision will also be forwarded to the PFF and if the national body endorses it, the ban in effect, banishes the players from playing football not only in Cebu, but all over the country.

The board also warned both players that if they get involved in another brawl, they will be banned for life.

"Team officials, manager, coach and captains from both clubs are to be summoned to a meeting with the CebuFA. The CebuFA is to appeal to both teams for a better level of sportsmanship and goodwill during all future football tournaments and will be expected to singan an agreement that tstates future repetition of "free for all" situations by any tam will result in a lifetime ban for the club concerned and the players involved," the statement said.

People here is the decision by the Cebu Football Association, as written by Disciplinary Committee chair, Mark Bretherton.
----
The CebuFA has held two disciplinary meetings with the full board invited to review the incident that occurred between Hiroshi and Crazy Horse Football Clubs during the Men’s division semi-finals of the Thirsty Cup Football Festival on Sunday, January 11th.

These meetings were held on Thursday, 12th and Tuesday, 17th of January 2006.

Following initial discussions and review of the referees report, the organizers report and the referee’s coordinator report on Tuesday, 17th of January it was decided to request written statements from the players indicated in the reports and the management of the two teams.

The reports submitted by those concerned were reviewed at the meeting on Tuesday, 17th of January 2006.

The following decisions were made:
1. Players banned for one year (initial violent offense).

Harold Buot (Hiroshi)
Rommel Cuizon (Hiroshi)
Richard Romero (Hiroshi)
Gary Panagsagan (Crazy Horse)
Francis Parampan (Crazy Horse)
Joshua Fegidero (Crazy Horse)

2. Players banned for two years (repeat of violent offense).
Vermonil Resuena (Hiroshi)
Ariel Cahilig (Hiroshi)

3. Team penalties:
Hiroshi Football Club are fined a total of P15,000 (this being a second offense) and will not represent Cebu in the 2006 PFF Regional Qualifying Games.

Crazy Horse Football Club are fined a total of P10,000 (first offense) and will not represent Cebu in the 2006 PFF Regional Qualifying Games.

Team officials, manager, coach and captain from both clubs are to be summoned to a meeting with the CebuFA shortly. The CebuFA is to appeal to both teams for a better level of sportsmanship and goodwill during all future football tournaments. Both teams will be expected to sign an agreement that states future repetition of “free for all” situations by any team will result in a lifetime ban for the club concerned and the players involved.

There's nothing official yet, the Cebu Football Association is set to issue an official statement tomorrow (January 18), I just hope that it is more detailed than the previous one.

However, that doesnt stop me from snooping around, after nobody would issue an official statement a few hours ago, I learned from a reliable source that two players will get a two-year ban, while the rest will sit it out for one year.

As for Hiroshi representing Cebu in the regional eliminatins, my source didnt say anything but hinted that Hiroshi might not see action at all.

Ouch.

Hope lessons are learned from this one, tune in for more.

THE PHILIPPINE Football Federation (PFF) is set to put a check on the practice of players jumping from one team to another in the Men's National Championship on Feb 20-26 in Iloilo City, but has also allowed teams to recruit foreign players for their squad.

"Teams can hire five foreign players for the national finals, but only three can play at the same time," Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) president Jonathan Maximo said.

Maximo added that the foreigners will have to be registered first with the PFF before they can play.

Aside from the foreigners, the PFF has also restricted the practice of players jumping from one place to another, which led to some officials joking during last year's championships that the champion team, NCR, had no player who can speak Tagalog, since most of them came from Visayas and Mindanao.

The new rules were part of the guidelines on players' eligibility sent by PFF to the local associations for the regional and national meets this year.

"In our case, the players who were born here but are now playing somewhere else, we can get them provided they are released form their Club and their FA," Maximo said.

Teams who have played in one regional elimination are no longer allowed to play in other regional meet.

According to Maximo, some teams who lose in the NCR eliminations go to other FAs to play and cited the case of the Philippine Army team, which lost in the NCR eliminations but managed to win and represent Laguna in the national finals.

"Basically the PFF want to contain the teams and let them play and qualify (for the nationals) in their own FAs," Maximo said.

As to the fielding of foreign players, Maximo said that although a team can hire five, only three players can play in a single match.

Also, the champion team in a regional meet can beef up its squad with a maximum of five players from the teams in the same regional meet. The other players in the losing squad, can no longer jump to other teams.

The NCR team that won the crown last year had in its line up, Ref Cuaresma, Gary and Rock Clint Viliran, Norman Sonoza, Jose Caminos and Marlon Pinero , of Dumaguete City, Loreto Kalalang, RubenCArdena, DavidSerra of Bacolod City, Jimmy Doña, and Michael Jay Fernandez of Davao and Koronadal's Rodney Leyble.

Bacolod, the runner-up also had imports Jan Michael Flores, Rocky Garciano and Kim Relucio of Cebu and Redric Viliran and Wouter Delabore of Dumaguete.

THE CEBU Football Association (CebuFA) has learned a lesson from the Thirsty Cup brawl between Hiroshi and Crazy Horse FC last Sunday and will institute stricter security measures in future seniors matches.

However, the FA will have to balance in protecting the players with protecting the integrity of the game.

"We don't want to make it appear that football is violent in Cebu, na dili pwede maka-dula kung walay pulis," CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said. (That you can't play with out the presence of the police)

Last Sunday, the Hiroshi FC - Crazy Horse FC semifinal ended abruptly after they got into a free-for-all. Among the factors some of involved players blamed were the lack of security personnel to control the crowd.

"Was this brawl initiated by organizers? Why no security, why no separated team bench, why was the crowd allowed to stay in the field?" said Manfred Schuwerk, a supporter of Hiroshi FC.

The first tournament after the Thirsty Cup, is the Red Ribbon Under 14, and even in the youth tournament, the CebuFA has linked up with the city police for security.

"Although its unlikely that there will be a rumble in the age groups," Maximo said.

In the manager's meeting this Tuesday, the CebuFA will also hand out copies of the Philippine Football Federation Code of Discipline to the different coaches and will ask them "to explain it to their players."

Also on Tuesday, the CebuFA is set to decide on the fate of the erring players in the brawl, and whether Hiroshi still has the right to represent Cebu in the PFF regional eliminations.

"Representing Cebu is more of a privilege," Maximo explained though he clarified that the decision whether Hiroshi plays in the regional or not, will be a separate issue.

People, got this from the Philfootball.info. This gal, fellow football fan, needs our help, get your phones off your pockets and start typing!!!

Hi everyone! =)

I joined GamePlan's host search late last year and somehow ended up a finalist! There are 6 of us - 3 boys and 3 girls (out of 300+ applicants), and I seem to be the only footballer in the bunch. Unfortunately, they're only going to choose 1 boy and 1 girl.

They're featuring the girls' profiles this Sunday, Jan. 15. I'm playing futbol with my teammates in my segment. I know I'm not as skilled as other players out there, but I love the sport just as much - just as madly - as any fanatic! And although our team just plays for fun, we've won our share of tourneys over the years. Our shoot was actually quite funny because we weren't used to being filmed while playing. Maybe you'll catch a few bloopers since there were times we'd get a bit distracted by the camera. I'm actually wondering how that segment's gonna turn out, haha! You'll probably have fun watching that one. =)

Okay, back to the details. The episodes leading up to early March will also show what we've been up to - the workshops and our out of town assignments, so be sure to check it out! GamePlan airs Sundays @ 1:30PM on Studio 23.

And now for the main squeeze: Viewers/supporters are requested to vote for the finalist they like via text, and air their opinions on the GamePlan Huddle (their forum) as well.

To vote for me, text the following:
GP (space) REACT (space) JOANNE

to 2331 for Globe and Sun Cellular subscribers
to 231 for Smart, Talk n Text and Addict Mobile subscribers

You can vote as many times as you wish until the cut-off (which is the last week of Feb). You can check the website for updates on the vote tally. I'd really appreciate the help, and I'll certainly need all the help I can get! It's my dream job y'see, and I'd love to use the position to promote football in our country!

The forum where viewers can share their opinions about the finalists is here: http://www.gameplan23.com/huddle/

To check out the profiles of all six of us, just go to http://www.gameplan23.com

My assigned partner is Paulo Varela (you probably know him as Paulo Walker though), he's a radio jock for Monster Radio in Cebu, and is an avid climber. You don't really have to vote/decide by our pairings since the tally is individualized... but still, he's one cool dude who's more than qualified for the position.

So vote for him too, okay?
< GP (space) REACT (space) VARELA > ;)


Thankies! :)

Joanne Ignacio

The Cebu Football Association will meet again on Tuesday for the decision regarding the fate of those involved in the free-for-all in the aborted semifinal match between Hiroshi FC and Crazy Horse FC in the Thirsty Cup.

“We got the referees report and it was mentioned that four players form Hiroshi and three from Crazy Horse were involved,” CebuFa president Jonathan Maximo said.

Maximo said, that in the interest of due process, they will ask the players mentioned and the Crazy Horse and Hiroshi managers to submit their own versions of the incident, to get their side.

“We also want to listen to the players,” Maximo said.

The sanctions from the CebuFa will be stiffer since it will affect all CebuFa sanctioned tournaments and will be forwarded to the PFF.

According to Maximo, the PFF Code of Discipline stipulates that “all cases of violence must be severely punished” and that the suggested 12 months suspension for getting involved in a free for all “must be considered as a minimum”

THE LATEST footbrawl has put the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) between the fire and a burner -- and whichever direction it takes, it get burns.

On the one hand, as the governing body for the sport in Cebu it must punish those involved in the ugly fracas, but on the other hand, it's role in the Thirsty Cup was only to provide the referees - nothing else.

"In the next tournaments we sanction, we will set a minimum standard on the pitch size, the security. We will be taking a more active role in the technical aspect," CebuFa president Jonathan Maximo said.

Hiroshi FC, and Crazy Horse FC, the top two teams in Cebu football and owned by Japanese football philanthropists, figured in a brawl in the semifinal round of the Thirsty Cup, with Crazy Horse leading 2-0. In the quarterfinal round, Hiroshi B also lost to another Crazy Horse team. Hiroshi was riding on a seven-title streak and was set to represent Cebu in the Philippine Football Federation regional eliminations later this month.

Accusations have been hurled back and forth from both teams, to the organizers and to the Cebu FA but the fans, including the kids, who saw the match, and the fight, saw Cebu football at its worse.

What they saw was Harold Buot, slapping Albert Nangkil at the back of the head, just as Nangkil turned away from Buot. Nangkil stayed down, and didn't try to retaliate. What they didn't see was, just as referee Kurt Acre's attention was on Buot, intent on giving him a red card, Gary Panagsagan hit Ariel Cahilig.

Then the free-for-all started.

Now, as the CebuFa board meet again today at the Cebu Country Club to settle punishment and sanctions against the players, they are in a position no one will envy. Last year, they banned a coach for a year for forfeiting two games.

"Heads will roll," Maximo has told reporters.

Anything less than one-year ban would make being involved in a free-for-all a lesser offense than defaulting one's match, anything over a year would make the CebuFa seems too harsh.

THE decision to hand a lifetime ban on Crazy Horse in the Thirsty Cup didn't go well with the team, but it is willing to accept it.

Team representatives said the sanction was excessive considering their players were the ones attacked and were just forced to defend themselves as they were already leading, 2-0.

"We can't just let them hit us," Crazy Horse player Hayato Ayabe said.

However, organizer Neil Montesclaros said the incident, which happened during the aborted Thirsty Cup Men's Open semifinal last Sunday, was already Crazy Horse' second offense in the tournament, after its manager, Ayabe's father Yozo, had an altercation with tournament officials last Saturday when they were refused to change their line-up.

Hayato explained that they wanted to change their line-up because they were told they could do so before their first game. The younger Ayabe added that six other teams were also trying to do the same.

For the Ayabes, the Thirsty Cup was their first brush with controversy, and it couldn't have come at a worse time - they are planning to put up a stadium in Cebu through their K7 foundation.

The father-and-son football patrons spend their own money for their team and say they want to uplift football in Cebu.

"They are being painted very negatively," a family friend said. "And these guys just wanted to play football. His dream is to uplift football in the Philippines."

The Crazy Horse officials are also willing to talk with the organizers to settle the conflict and keep it from getting bigger.

The elder Ayabe is very strict in disciplining his players and tells them to only play fair and refrain from questioning the referees in their matches. They also give financial support and pay for the studies of their players, which include Gary Panagsagan, who got into an altercation with Ariel Cahilig of Hiroshi last Sunday.

Panagsagan admitted punching Cahilig after referee Kurt Acre turned his back but claimed he was provoked. Almost simultaneously, Harold Buot slapped Albert Nangkil at the back of the head and then the free-for-all started.

About the picture of him holding a plastic cone, Yozo explained that he was using it as a megaphone.

"I can't see very well without my glasses, so I thought the game was over, and then here comes Gary, who was being chased and punched, and I grabbed him. I didn't make pok-pok (hit), they pok-pok (hit) me," he explained.

Both teams also said that the organizers should have anticipated a heated match between the two teams and should have provided security.

BANNED for life.

For harassing a tournament official and for getting involved in a brawl the players, manager and coaches of Crazy Horse FC are banned from the Thirsty Cup for life.

“As to Hiroshi, we are thinking of a one-year or two-year ban for them,” said Thirsty Cup organizer, Charlie Pages.

Although only Hiroshi and one of the two Crazy Horse teams were involved in the brawl, all their players in this year's Thirsty Cup will get the axe.

“That is their decision, we can do nothing about that,” said Crazy Horse goalkeeper Jesus Singson Jr. Singson was with the other Crazy Horse team which defeated Hiroshi B, 2-0, in the quarterfinal round. Despite being physical, the Hiroshi-Crazy Horse quarterfinal game had no untoward incidents.

Aside from Singson, Crazy Horse players banned from Thirsty are former national team member Joshua Fegidero, Albert Nangkil, Kim Relucio and the rest of their line-up.

Early Saturday, the Crazy Horse manager had an altercation with Pages and Neil Montesclaros after he was refused to change his line-up. A photo of Sunday’s scuffle also shows the manager with a plastic cone, being restrained as he tries to hit a player.

Still, aside from the Thirsty ban, players from both Hiroshi and Crazy Horse will have to contend with more penalties from the Cebu Football Association, which sanctioned the event.

The CebuFA, which uses the Philippine Football Federation guidelines in dealing with such actions, will meet on Thursday, and Montesclaros has promised to submit his report to the board before the meeting.

According to the PFF guidelines, a player who is involved in a free-for-all will be suspended for 12 months, while substitutes and team officials who are involved with get a 24-month suspension.

In the aborted semifinal, a source said that Ariel Cahilig was punched by Gary Panagsagan, who had checked in to replace Joshua Fegidero. Almost at the same time, Harold Buot slapped Albert Nangkil at the back of his head, and was about to get the red card from Kurt Acre when the fight started.

For Buot, his penalty will be tougher. The same guidelines state: “Any player sent out for serious acts of violence will receive an indefinite suspension.”

Sumbagay mo ani niya bay. Or isug ra mo kung gadagan ang kontra?

IF you have pictures of the Thirsty Cup and want to have it published in this site, please email your photo to mikelimpag@gmail.com

Thanks,

Mike

JUST eight days into the Year of the Dog, the Cebu Football Association now has two incidents to resolve.

“Pagkalabad sa ulo ani,” Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo said after learning of the Hiroshi-Crazy Horse fight yesterday.

It was Hiroshi’s second fight-marred game in two years, after they also got involved in a fracas against Exas Philippines in the Aboitiz Champions League in February last year.

And just like the first fight, their stint in the Regional Finals of the Philippine Football Federation Men’s Open could be in jeopardy.

Last year before leaving for the regional, they had four players suspended because of the fight and may face a similar punishment before this year’s regional eliminations at the end of this month in Dumaguete City.

“The board will just have to wait for the incident report from the Thirsty Cup and we will deliberate on this,” Maximo said.

If Hiroshi FC gets suspended, the second team ranked team in the Aboitiz League Div. A will represent Cebu. Since the second team is Crazy Horse, which might also get suspended, the No. 3 team, University of San Jose-Recoletos, may get to represent Cebu.

Last Saturday, the manager of Crazy Horse also harassed Neil Montesclaros of Thirsty after he was not allowed to change his line up.

Because of both teams’ actions yesterday, organizers are mulling to ban them from future Thirsty Cup, which will be doubly embarrassing for Hiroshi since they will have the rare tag of being banned form a tournament it dominated.

Sadly, the fight just came a few days after Hiroshi keeper, Ace Mangohig made a pledge about fair play in a the pinoy football forum, Philfootball.info.

“It is my concern that we need to safeguard the integrity of the game by playing fair and playing the way the game should be played. It is important that as players we protect ourselves and the welfare of our fellow players as well as that of the opponents,” Mangohig said in his post.

FOR the second time in just 11 months, Hiroshi FC found themselves in another ugly free-for-all, marring an otherwise festive 3rd Thirsty Cup at the Sacred Heart School Jesuit.

In a heated match against Crazy Horse, whom they fought to a 2-2 draw to claim the Aboitiz League Div. A crown last month, the defending champion Hiroshi found themselves down 1-0 after a perfectly taken grounder by Joshua Fegidero.

That raised the intensity of the match, forcing ref Kurt Acre to ask for another ref to man the sidelines after Fegidero and Ariel Cahilig got into a heated exchange.

Cahilig was replaced by Harold Buot and in the second half, with Crazy Horse ahead 2-0, all hell broke loose. Buot got into an argument with Albert Nangkil and when Nangkil turned away, Buot slapped Nangkil at the back of the neck.

"I was about to give him (Buot) the red card but there was already a commotion in the side," Acre said.

A Hiroshi and Crazy Horse player got tangled near the Crazy Horse bench just after Buot slapped Nangkil, and then a few of the Hiroshi players, and worse some spectators, swarmed their opponents.

"I was telling them to stop and I got punched in the face," said Fegidero.

Aside from Fegidero, Gary Espinosa also got the brunt of the attack and was already down when goalkeeper Francis Parampan rushed to his aid.

"I got punched in the back by a spectator when I run to help Gary," Parampan said.

Because of the free-for-all, tournament organizers were forced to call it an abandoned match and ruled that the other semis between Airforce and Don Bosco Alumni FC be replayed as the finals.

Since they lost to Airforce in the semis, DBAFC conceded the title to them.

Meanwhile in the Ladies Open, which also had the crowd heckling some of the players, San Roque FC defeated Foundation University, 3-2 on penalties with striker turned keeper Rhodora Toledo coming up with the winning save.

Elaine Macasero, Georgia Guidecelli and Carmel Colina all scored for their thrilling win. Toledo was named the MVP.

In the 12 Under finals, Aiken Ong scored the long goal for their 1-0 win over Don Bosco College. Karl Arcenas also got the MVP award. Springdale made it two for two with a 1-0 win in the U14 with Carlos Veloso earning the MVP honors

Another year, another fight, another suspension, another tournament ban, another ugly incident in Cebu Football.

The repercussions of the fight will be felt in the days to come, in that split second, when both teams abandoned fair play and turned into bullies, the fate of both teams will lay.

What will happen?

Stay tuned.

FOOTBALL teams live and die by their goal keepers and Miguel Red and Jake Allen Vicen made this true as they carried their team to the championships in yesterday’s 3rd Thirsty Cup at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field.

Red staved off the final shot of Don Bosco – UC in the Under 17 shoot-out to the propel Cebu International School (CIS) to the title,2-1 while Vicen also had a similar title clinching move, stopping the second kicker of San Roque FC in their own finals shoot out for Don Bosco College’s, 1-0 win.

It was CIS’ fourth straight title in the U17 dating to last year. They also won the CIS Friendship Cup in March, SRFC in August and Aboitiz Football Festival in September.

Oddly, their final trophy started badly after Paolo Cases missed his first shot but they got a break after referee Louis Arriesgado called Delvon Kim’s shot in – while the DB/UC bench protested that the whole ball, which bounced off the lower corner did not go in.

Andre Antigua drilled in his shot to give CIS a 2-1 lead.

Since an RCTV crew was filming the shoot out, Kim’s shot was reviewed, but organizers decided to stay with the shot.

“According to Fifa rules, it was a judgement call, and just like the Hand of God of Maradona, the decision stands,” tournament director Neil Montesclaros told the UC coaches.

Early in the day, the CIS Pink Ladies pulled an upset over the visiting Foundation University, 1-0, also in a shoot-out with Georgia Guidicelli scoring the lone goal.

It was the third straight tournament that CIS swept the U17 crowns after the San Roque and Aboitiz Fiesta.

FU, who blanked their elimination round opponents by four and five goals, had difficulty playing CIS, as they were held to a scoreless draw in their elimination encounter, before losing in the finals.

“I think they (FU) were really expecting to win because of their impressive wins in the elimination round,” CIS coach Rhodora Toledo said.

Meanwhile, Bright Academy took the Girls 12 crown after topping their double round robin event. Book Yong Soon, nicknamed “Sky” got the MVP nod.

The finals of the Boys 12 and Boys 14 will be played today since it was already dark.

Drop by Ayala for the games, the 3rd edition of the Thirsty Cup opens Saturday.

THE third edition of the Thirsty Cup – Cebu football’s opening salvo of the year – kicks off with a launching party tonight at the Bright Academy compound in Barangay Banilad.

Just like last year, players and football fans will have a chance to pit their skills in the digital domain in the Fifa 2006 Playstation contest, while the best jugglers will again try to come up with the winning moves in the juggling contest.

There will be also contests for the most accurate kicker, best dribbler, and best in football attire. All winners will get a certificate and a football. Organizers have also set aside football gear as door prizes.

Last year, Sun.Star Cebu editor and weekend goalkeeper Noel Villaflor, defeated Hiroshi’s Frederick Alazas for the Fifa 2005 crown, while Ace Mangohig bested the other jugglers to win the competition – highlighted by his trademark bicycle kick in the hard court venue at Kaona Grill.

“Everybody is invited to the party, not