'Foot-brawl' mars Thirsty Cup event

A sad ending to a wonderful tournament.

A despicable free-for-all incident incited by players from Hiroshi Football Club and Crazy Horse marred yesterday's culmination of the two-day 3rd Thirsty Football Cup at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field in Ayala Business Park.

Tension and tempers flared after Harold Buot of Hiroshi was fouled by Crazy Horse's Albert Nangkil in the closing minutes of their semifinal match in the men's open division. At that point, Hiroshi was on the brink of defeat, trailing Crazy Horse, 0-2.

Angered by Nangkil's act, Buot retaliated by hitting Nangkil on the head.

When referee Kurt Acre was about to slap Buot with a red card penalty, a gang of irate Crazy Horse fans trooped to the playing field, thus, sparking an ugly melee that dealt a huge blackeye to Cebu football community.

For about two minutes, football enthusiasts witnessed a very disgraceful sight as the warring camps and their coterie of supporters transformed the playing field into a boxing arena.

The ugly commotion was only stopped when some policemen, aided by proverbial cooler heads, rushed to the playing venue.

When the dust settled, the team captains and managers of the respective teams were summoned by tournament organizers Charlie Pages and Neil Montesclaros. It was then decided that the match was called off.

"Such act was totally unacceptable. Both teams are very good but this is not an act of sportsmanship so we consider this as an abandoned match," said Montesclaros.

"This is the second time that you did this, you will be banned for the next Thirsty Cup and even for a lifetime," added Montesclaros.

Montesclaros said he will be bringing this matter to the sanctioning Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) to that 'worst possible sanction" will be met against the erring parties.

The incident may cost Hiroshi its entry to the PFF Men's Regional Championship late this month in Dumaguete City.

With the stoppage of the Hiroshi-Crazy Horse match, Air Force was declared as the champion courtesy of its 3-2 victory via penalty shootout over Don Bosco Alumni in the other semifinal match.

Actually, the organizers decided Air Force to battle Don Bosco anew in the final, but the Bosconians, personifying true spirit of sportsmanship, conceded defeat having lost Air Force in the semis.

In the women's open, San Roque FC defeated Dumaguete's Foundation University via shootout, 3-2, to win the title. SRFC goal-keeper Rhodora Toledo was named as the MVP honors.

Springdale, on the other hand, scored a sweep over the Bosconians in the Players 12 and Players 14 divisions.

Springdale rode on Aiken Ong's lone goal to outpoint Don Bosco College, 1-0, for the Players 12 crown, while it was Miguel Ariola's turn to shine in Springdale's 1-0 conquest of Don Bosco Boys Home.

Karl Arcenas was the MVP in the Players 12, while Carlos Veloso copped the honors in the Players 14 category.

On the other hand, Rogelio Castillon powered Hiroshi to a 1-0 beating of Don Bosco College for the Players 10 plum.

The Bosconians, however, still have a reason to celebrate after they triumphed over Juvio Magone, 3-2, to win the Players 19 championship.