18 booters barred temporarily from playing in CESAFI footballfest

For failing to comply with the eligibility requirements, a total of 18 players have been disqualified temporarily from playing in the 2006 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) football event, which will kick off with an exciting double-header on tap this afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center field.

Tournament manager Jonathan "Maxi" Maximo, however, said the concerned players could still join the tournament once they will be able to rectify their respective credentials and submit all the pertinent all the documents relative to the CESAFI ground rules.

"While going through with the team lineup and the credentials of players being submitted, we found out that at least 18 players are currently ineligible to participate based on the CESAFI ground rules," said Maximo.

"We have already called the attention of the concerned coaches. Once these credentials are rectified, then they can join the tournament," added the president of the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA).

Maximo said they are scrutinizing thoroughly the credentials of all the participants upon the behest of the CESAFI Board headed by its president Engr. Oscar Tuazon and commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr.

"We have been given specific instructions by the CESAFI Board headed by Engr. Oscar Tuazon and Mr. Felix Tiukinhoy to implement the rules and regulations to the fullest," said Maximo.

Meanwhile, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Kicking Jaguars will battle the University of Southern Philippines (USPF) Panthers at 1 pm to be followed immediately by the shootout between the University of San Carlos (USC) and University of Cebu (UC) at 2:30 pm.

Following an 11-a-side format with a maximum of 20 players and two officials per team, the tournament will be governed by the CESAFI ground rules. FIFA/PFF/CebuFA Technical Rules & Code of Discipline shall also be applied in the conduct of the competition.

Games today

(Cebu City Sports Center)

1 pm USPF vs. USJ-R

2:30 pm USC vs UC