Azkals in Aboitiz Cup opening

THE 15th Aboitiz Football Cup will have a grand launch with heavyweight guests after Philippine men’s football team manager Dan Palami promised that he and the members of the Azkals will join the opening festivities on Nov. 11 at the Aboitiz Sports Field.

Palami, Philippine Football Federation legal counsel and acting secretary-general Ed Castanes, met members of the Cebu Football Association (CFA) for the signing of the memorandum of agreement for Cebu’s hosting of the Nov. 15 friendly between the Philippines and Singapore at the Cebu City Sports Center.



The Philippine team was supposed to arrive in Cebu on Nov. 12 but their trip has been pushed earlier so they can join the opening.

“We will just request that we be given a pitch to train since Nov. 11 was supposed to be our camp,” Palami said.

CFA board member Rico Navarro said they want to bring the prestige back to the Aboitiz Cup and one way of doing that is to create awareness by making a grand opening.

They will do away with the usual opening ceremonies but instead hold a festive affair, and they will have contests for the longest throw in, accurate kicks and juggling.  They will also give some 200 tickets for the Nov. 15 game as prizes, while some will be raffled also.

"Kung magkulang ang tickets, ato dungagan," he said.

For the Aboitiz Cup, some 130 teams over 14 divisions have signed up for Cebu’s longest-running 11-a-side football tournament.

As for the preparations for the Nov. 15 friendly, Palami said he’s satisfied with the way things are going but is only concerned about the conditions of the pitch at the CCSC.

“I have faith in the CFA,” said Palami, who inspected the venue twice.

Palami will also donate 30 brand new balls worth $169 each to be used for the friendlies.

Palami said the team coming over for the Singapore friendly will be composed of the Peace Cup players plus Phil and James Younghusband, Juani Guirado, Rob Gier and Ray Jonsson.

The Singapore friendly is the final match of the Philippines before leaving for the Suzuki Cup campaign in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Navarro also reported that in the first two weeks of selling tickets, 3,598 of the 5,746, or 63 percent, have been sold.

The friendly isn’t the only football activity for the week as the CFA will also host the PFF Board of Governors meeting and Congress on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15.

Atty. Gastanes said among the topics that will be tackled during the meetings will be the approval of the probationary members.

“We have five or six probationary members,” he said. “There has been a spike of interest from people and players who want to organize their own FAs and apply as members.”

“We are looking forward to a very busy week of football ahead,” said CFA president Ricky Dakay.