8th football festival kicks off today
This article, minus the photos of course, appeared in Sun.Star Cebu on Feb. 4.
THE longest-running football festival in Cebu, the Thirsty Football Cup, kicks off its eighth edition this afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.
This year’s edition has drawn 243 teams in 14 divisions, making it the country’s biggest football festival in terms of participation. Last year’s events drew 210 teams.
“This is the biggest so far,” Thirsty Football Cup tournament manager Chad Songalia said in a press conference yesterday at the Mooon Café in IT Park.
For the first time this year, they have added the 42-and above division.
“Those who joined the 36-above division eight years ago are getting older, so we decided to give them a different division,” said Neil Montesclaros, one of the organizers.
Thirsty was the first to offer the 36-above division, as well as the different age groups.
The Men’s Open category drew the largest group with a total of 60 teams. Men’s Open defending champions Queen City United is back to defend its title but it is expected to face tough competition against some of the best clubs in Cebu and Manila.
United Football League teams Laos FC, Lions FC and Global-Smartmatic have joined the Thirsty Football Cup for the first time.
Aside from the usual Cebu-based schools, clubs and squads, the three-day football festival has also attracted teams from outside Cebu City--Tacloban City, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod City, Bohol, Negros Oriental,Negros Occidental, Dumaguete City, Leyte, Manila, Northern Samar and Iligan.
“This year, there are more outside teams compared to the previous,” said Songalia.
However, this time around Don Bosco Technology Center, who has had the largest participation of squads in the past, won’t be joining.
Games that will be played today are in the Players 8, Players 10, Girls 12, Boys 14, Girls 19 and Boys 19 divisions. The games will start at 5:30 p.m. today.
Aside from the games, photography enthusiasts will have a chance to enjoy the Thirsty Cup as the organizers have decided to put up a photo contest, with P10,000 going to the winner.
THE longest-running football festival in Cebu, the Thirsty Football Cup, kicks off its eighth edition this afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.
This year’s edition has drawn 243 teams in 14 divisions, making it the country’s biggest football festival in terms of participation. Last year’s events drew 210 teams.
“This is the biggest so far,” Thirsty Football Cup tournament manager Chad Songalia said in a press conference yesterday at the Mooon Café in IT Park.
For the first time this year, they have added the 42-and above division.
“Those who joined the 36-above division eight years ago are getting older, so we decided to give them a different division,” said Neil Montesclaros, one of the organizers.
Thirsty was the first to offer the 36-above division, as well as the different age groups.
The Men’s Open category drew the largest group with a total of 60 teams. Men’s Open defending champions Queen City United is back to defend its title but it is expected to face tough competition against some of the best clubs in Cebu and Manila.
United Football League teams Laos FC, Lions FC and Global-Smartmatic have joined the Thirsty Football Cup for the first time.
Aside from the usual Cebu-based schools, clubs and squads, the three-day football festival has also attracted teams from outside Cebu City--Tacloban City, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod City, Bohol, Negros Oriental,Negros Occidental, Dumaguete City, Leyte, Manila, Northern Samar and Iligan.
“This year, there are more outside teams compared to the previous,” said Songalia.
However, this time around Don Bosco Technology Center, who has had the largest participation of squads in the past, won’t be joining.
Games that will be played today are in the Players 8, Players 10, Girls 12, Boys 14, Girls 19 and Boys 19 divisions. The games will start at 5:30 p.m. today.
Aside from the games, photography enthusiasts will have a chance to enjoy the Thirsty Cup as the organizers have decided to put up a photo contest, with P10,000 going to the winner.
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btw, good luck for Azkals, saw some of the team during the match in Jakarta in december, I think De Jong and Younghusband is very close to sign the contract with Jakarta based club.