CEBU, Philippines - A festive and exciting football athmosphere will surely prevail this weekend as the 9th Thirsty Football Cup gets underway today simultaneously at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center USC-TC) field in Brgy. Talamban and at the San Roque Parish pitch in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
Aside from the Little Azkals, spicing up the two-weekend event is the presence of former Philippine Team members in Yani Bersales, Jeruzel Tonog and Edmundo Mercado, Jr., who will be playing for Erco FC in the 36-above division. The three are also mainstays of Philippine Air Force Phoenix.
The Little Azkals of coach Oliver Colina, on the other hand, will compete in the boys 14-under class.
A record field of 321 teams are seeing action in what is considered as the biggest football festival in the country.
The out-of-town entries include CIE-Tacloban, Football Association of Masbate, Bethel Eagles-Tacloban, Olles FC of Bukidnon, Foundation University-IYS Peace, Mapfre, Liceo de Cagayan, Ormoc, Simples Dreamkix, HCA Tubigon, Club Futboleras, Footbelle United Club, Jeralp Ronquello and University of St. La Salle-Bacolod.
Also set to give the Cebuanos a headache are booters from Iligan, Einstein, Libertad, UP-SMB of Leyte, Futbol Sociedad de Tacloban, Masbate City Football Club, FC 95 Wildbars, Asenso Siaton, Tagbilaran, and Los Membros of Tacloban.
The first two days of action feature the players 6, 8, 10, girls 12, 17, 19, boys 12, 14,17,19, 36-above and 43-above categories.
The following weekend will be devoted for the men’s and women’s open division. (FREEMAN)