A question for Cebu football

Here's an interesting sidelight to what the Azkal has done and it's a prickly topic for Cebu football.

The political rift in Cebu football has played a role in the low number of entries in the Aboitiz Football Cup Men's league.

The champion in this division gets to represent Cebu in the national tournament, which were scrapped during Mari Martinez's term.

Now that Nonong Araneta wants to hold them again, next year, he is also planning to use them to scout players for the senior team.

Will those who skipped the Aboitiz League miss the chance, too?

For next year, Araneta also plans to revive the Under-19 nationals, then known as the Adidas Under-19. But, and this is a big boost for our college players, he wants to make it a national Under-23 competion so the PFF can scout players for the Southeast Asian Games.

There is no 23-Under competition in the Aboitiz League and the CFA may hold a tournament or it may just hold a tryout for the CFA team.

I hope, if the CFA holds a tryout or a tournament, EVERYBODY will join.

There are many reasons not too many teams are in the Aboitiz Men's League and I won't even go there.

It's all in the past.

Haven't you noticed? Philippine football is in a new era. For the first time, we are seeing casual fans, talking football. We are reading basketball writers, columnist talk football. Heck we are seeing them on ANC, TV Patrol, 24 Oras, Balitanghali and what-have-you.

Will the Cebu football community take this chance to unite? Start a new slate? And show it's best face to the Philippine football community?

That is the question for Cebu football.

Comments

graeme said…
Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) wrote in his column
Here’s a strange twist in the fate that befell deposed Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Jose Mari Martinez. Martinez is now being hailed as the key to uniting the previously fractious football community.
“Thanks to Martinez, Philippine football is now united,” said PFF chairman emeritus Johnny Romualdez the other day. “He got everyone together to kick him out for the sake of Philippine football.”
So Mike if as Romualdez says everyone got together then in Cebu they should stay together for the future of Philippine football. I believe someone from Cebu has already posted elsewhere that the warring parties should get together. I would go one further and say that the "king makers" behind the scenes should also put the knives away, and let the current admin run its course to the next election. The "King Makers"can do their thing at the next election but for now bask in the glow of the moment. Aboitiz Cup is a cornerstone of the future of Cebu football (as it has been in the past) and their support should never be put in jeopardy by self interests otherwise we will have learned nothing from this PFF debacle. As a gesture of goodwill all clubs should enter the Aboitiz Cup in numbers previously seen and support the tournament with gusto. With the political rift set aside in the name of a united football image the low number of entries should not be a concern. Now we can sit back and watch whether the Cebu football community is serious and prepared to come together.
2:48 PM
manfred said…
There is only one thing to add: The basic of international football is the unique international standard. Everywhere in the world football is played with the same rules and regulations. Cebu should not make an exception and the teams should join. This means also that the regionalisation must go on as prepared before by Maximo.
3:36 PM
graeme said…
mike my turn to ask a question.What is your answer to your question????
12:55 AM
Mike Limpag said…
Still gathering info, I talked with Francis Ramirez a few hours ago. The CAFC will hold a tournament next month and he said they will have it sanctioned by CFA.
1:00 AM
Ken said…
One thing I'd like to say: It's only here in the country that you'll see the words football and politics in one sentence.
9:10 PM
Christie Wall said…
Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) wrote in his column Here’s a strange twist in the fate that befell deposed Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Jose Mari Martinez. Martinez is now being hailed as the key to uniting the previously fractious football community. “Thanks to Martinez, Philippine football is now united,” said PFF chairman emeritus Johnny Romualdez the other day. “He got everyone together to kick him out for the sake of Philippine football.” So Mike if as Romualdez says everyone got together then in Cebu they should stay together for the future of Philippine football. I believe someone from Cebu has already posted elsewhere that the warring parties should get together. I would go one further and say that the "king makers" behind the scenes should also put the knives away, and let the current admin run its course to the next election. The "King Makers"can do their thing at the next election but for now bask in the glow of the moment. Aboitiz Cup is a cornerstone of the future of Cebu football (as it has been in the past) and their support should never be put in jeopardy by self interests otherwise we will have learned nothing from this PFF debacle. As a gesture of goodwill all clubs should enter the Aboitiz Cup in numbers previously seen and support the tournament with gusto. With the political rift set aside in the name of a united football image the low number of entries should not be a concern. Now we can sit back and watch whether the Cebu football community is serious and prepared to come together.
9:07 PM
Mike Limpag said…
Football politics/infighting should spare Aboitiz Cup. Anyway, I', seeing some positive signs. THe Sinulog Cup has decided to have their event sanctioned by the CFA.

We've seen what the sport can achieve, once people do things the right way and get serious. Now, I hope Cebu can do that too. There will be national tournaments, again, next year. I hope whatever the CFA decides to do to form the team--tournament, tryout--every one will support them.
2:44 AM
Tanya Chica said…
The Sinulog Cup was NOT sanctioned, as I was informed.
10:02 AM
Mike Limpag said…
Yep, in a report, Francis said their budget, including the P7,500 sanction fee was slashed. I haven't seen him since that talk, and I am yet to grill him. Ricky Ballesteros, the brains behind the Sinulog sports events, isn't also a fan of having their events sanctioned. This is something the CFA has to work on...
10:06 AM
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