Cebu Football

I was on Cagayan for an assignment for the past few days, so I got to miss the Thirsty Cup. I heard Don Bosco opted not to join the event, while Canduman Elementary School nailed a title at the expense of Thirsty-returnee Sacred Heart School-Jesuit Cops also patrolled the grounds, hence, last year's melee was avoided.

From Sun.Star Cebu By Marian C. Baring Sports Reporter DONNING makeshift shin guards and worn-out spikes, the M. Lhuillier-Canduman troop look far from impressive. But wait till they take the field. The squad from Barangay Canduman in Mandaue City was anything but second-rate as it collared the Players 10 title of the 4th Thirsty Football Festival over an equally gritty Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) via a 2-0 penalty shootout in yesterday's emotional final at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Team Cebu City opened its Division B hunt with a bang as it withstood the University of San Carlos, 3-2, last Sunday. USC, which won its inaugural Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. crown last year, took the initiative in the sixth minute but Jerson Omnos fought back for TCC to score a hat trick in the first half.

AFTER steering the senior national team to its best performance in decades, coach Ariston Caslib is quitting his post. However, football fans need not fret as the 36-year-old coach will still stay with Philippine football to concentrate on the Under 23 team, which will play in the Southeast Asian Games. Caslib said he has already informed the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) regarding the move even before the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championships in Thailand but that he has yet to tender his writing resignation. “Although it (resignation) is not yet final, that’s my direction. I want to concentrate with the Under 23 for the 2009 Sea Games. Our target is to win the first medal,” said Caslib. Caslib also said he has no idea as to who will replace him in the senior team, which he guided to a 3-1 record during the AFF qualifiers in Bacolod City last year. The coach took over in 2004 and steered the Philippines to its first win in almost 13 years with a 2-1 escape over East Timo

If things push through as planned, Cebuano football fans need not wait for a miracle or sell their souls to the devil to watch the Philippines play in football's World Cup. And yes, I do mean the brand of football where the ball is kicked, not thrown. And if Cebuanos are really that lucky, they may not need to leave the country to watch the games. However, before you delude yourself to screaming "ole" with thousands upon thousands of fans packed in a 70,000 stadium, the World Cup I am referring to is the Beach Soccer World Cup. The Philippines had just bidded to host the games, and one of the venues picked is Cebu. Ole?

This cbox of mine has churned up another "talented" guy. I guess (and frankly I am sure) that it has to do with their being able to hide behind anonymity. (If anyone here knows of a program that offers a similar function as cbox, but requires posters to register and is FREE, do holler me) Now here comes Bungi, and let us enumerate his posts. (edited version)

Now, here's something you don't see in everyday matches (not that we have a football match everyday). Carlos Veloso's goal in the 10th minute has got to be one of the freakiest goals I've ever seen. Veloso's shot hit a defender, then the ball ball bounced back, hit an ANS player's back and ricocheted back towards the goal. Think pin ball. (All Photos are from JP)

IN a battle between David and Goliath, this time, the little guy didn't have enough power in his sling to bring down the giants and Don Bosco took another U12 title as the gritty Pepito FC went down, 2-0, in San Roque.

If you got the pictures of your matches, throw them my way and I'll have them published here. E-mail me for more details.

IF things look up, the Cebu International School may not just have former national team mainstays in its coaching staff, but also a current youth RP team member in its squad. This after their ace player and veteran of various national and local competitions Michael Sharpe got a call-up to join 24 other members in the RP Under-21 training pool in Manila this Feb. 14.

The Cebu International School opened its Aboitiz Div. B campaign with a bang, whipping the University of the Philippines, 8-1, at San Roque. With marquee players in Joshua Fegidero, who played his first game since serving a one-year suspension, Oliver Colina, Eleazer Toledo, Jesus Singson, who isn't wearing a goalie's gloves, and Michael Sharpe, all bets were on a CIS blowout. However, UP managed to hold their own against the CIS attack, which seem to come every other minute. Sloppy finishing, and miscommunaction had the ball crossing the goal mouth, waiting to be simply tapped in the first 25 minutes of the match.

Here are the entries of the next Thirsty Cup, which will be on Feb. 16-18. Aside from the games, there will contests for the juggling competition (men's and youth division), playstation fifa competition, human fussball tournament, accurate kicker and the opening will be on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Cebu City Sports Center.

FOOTBALL in Cebu gets lovelier in the month of love as three football events kick off in different parts of the City, while another event winds up with championship showdowns. First to fire off is “Soccer Mania,” at SM City today. The event, backed by McDonald’s, Solar Sports and SM Malls among others, aims to bring the sport closer to the people, hence the decision to hold it one of the popular hangouts—malls. “Football is already popular in Cebu, we are just here to strengthen it,” said Rod Nepumoceno during yesterday’s Scoop forum at Baseline restaurant.