3rd BRO bootfest kicks off April 7

CEBU, Philippines - The battle for supremacy among Cebu football squads once again takes place as the 3rd edition of the BRO National Football Festival is set to unfold on April 7 at different venues.

More than winning titles, the organizers hope that the tournament will serve as a way for the Cebu football clubs to finally move on from the controversial football incident that rocked the local football community.

The organizers are talking about the free-for-all incident that took place in the 16th Aboitiz Football Cup.

"That incident is isolated. We don't want to ruin the fun. We should not underestimate the capabilities of the Cebuanos on what's right and wrong. Let’s move on," said Engineer Keith Buyco, one of the tournament organizers, in a press conference yesterday at the Casino Español de Cebu.

For his part, Delon Richel Ramon B. Urot of the Royal Knights Security Agency, head of the security of the BRO Nationals, ensures that they will enforce strict security during the event.

The third edition of the tournament will feature a football cup and football festival.

The football cup will include the under 13, 18 and men's open with the elimination round to take place at Don Bosco Technology Center at Punta Princesa and the final day at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Brgy. Subangdaku in Mandaue City.

The festival-type, on the other hand, will kick-off right after the football cup.

The teams in the football festival  will vie for the titles in the mixed under-7, 8,9,10,11, 12, boys 13,14,15, 16, and 18, girls 15, 18, executive 38 and 45, ladies open and the men's open.

The mixed under-7 will be a five-aside, while the mixed 8, 9, 10, and 11 will have the 7-a-side. The executive 38, boys 18 and girls 18, men’s open, ladies open and executive 45 will be 9-a-side and the rest will be an 11-a-side.

So far, there are now 120 teams from 50 clubs and schools that have confirmed their participation in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Philippine Azkals’ Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta and Roel Gener will be around during the event. (FREEMAN)