Visayas Elims of PFF-SMART National Club championship

               Queen City to banner Cebu’s campaign

CEBU, Philippines - The Queen City United (QCU) will banner Cebu's campaign in the Visayas cluster eliminations of the 2nd Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Smart National Club Championship slated on November 21-25 at the Silliman University (SU) Ballpark in Dumaguete City.

To be reinforced by Italian, Nigerian and Japanese players, the QCU booters will go up against tough teams from the football associations of Iloilo, Leyte, Bacolod and host Dumaguete in the five-day joust.

"We're doing our best to prepare our players because we know the level of competition would be high," said QCU representative Stanley Villacin in a press conference yesterday at Neo-Neo Grill along Juan Luna Avenue in Brgy. Mabolo, this city.

"We're joining because we want to test the waters. We haven't played yet against our neighbors in the region and we do not know where we stand right now."

Also present during the affair were PFF's competitions department head Cyril Dofitas, Smart Sports manager Epok Quimpo, Cebu Football Association Vice President Rico Navarro and CFA Board of Director Raffy Musni.

"We welcome the participation of our Visayas football associations in the PFF-Smart National Club Championship," said Dofitas. " We have witnessed great progress in the local football scene, and we're hoping a team from this region can make it to the finals."

The Visayas regional qualifying was originally set for November 7-11 but the organizers have decided to postpone it a week later as the Queen City of the South will play host to its first ever international football match featuring the Philippines Azkals against Singapore on November 15 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

"This year's staging of the annual competition is part of Smart's continuing commitment to the development and promotion of football.

We are now seeing the fruits of PFF and Smart's joint efforts to advance the sport in the country.

This tournament is one of our move to institutionalize local football leagues," said Quimpo.

"It is more of a partnership than an individual effort on our end."

Aside from Visayas, PFF will also hold qualifying tilts in Luzon, Mindanao and the National Capital Region (NCR) that will be represented by powerhouse teams from the elite United Football League (UFL).

The top two finishers in the regionals will join eight seeded teams from the UFL in the round of 16 knockout stage scheduled on January 12, 2013 with no confirmed venue. The order of play will be determined by the drawing of lots and Hofitas assured that no provincial teams will be pitted against each other.

"We are doing this so that we can evaluate the strength of the provincial teams that will go up against the UFL squads," said Hofitas.

"There is a program within that we have to stengthen the local clubs and determine if they're competitive enough against the top teams of UFL."

For Quimpo, joining the event presents an opportunity for the provincial squads to showcase their wares on a bigger stage.

"We make it a point to give opportunities for regional football clubs to participate in such kind of competition.

Medyo malaki ang incentives. If you do well and make it to the next round, magkaroon ka ng chance to play with the national players who are currently playing in different UFL teams," said Quimpo.

The grand finals is calendared on February 2 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. (FREEMAN)