In a rare first for Central Visayas Regional Football Association, its players are making their mark in the regional, national and international level while the regional FA is holding its first Presidents Cup.
Over at San Carlos City, Erco-Bro FC, manned by players who a few years ago were rivals in high school, beat De Los Hermanos De Futbol, 3-2, to finish at a respectable third place in the San Carlos City NEgros Football League Charter Day Invitational men’s open.
John Clyde Vitualla, Kian Partosa and Pomeroy Veloso scored the three goals, which was coached by Universty of Sto. Tomas tactician Marjo Allado. The team also had Joseph Kei Ceniza, Alberca Reymart Cubon, Jose Antonio Salazar, Peter John Quillo, Jeremy Laro, Paul Vincent Mapula, Rafael Gorre, Glen Thomas Ramos, Friedrich Mercader, Aguistan Rafael Roa, Yuan Rena, Pietre Dakay, Christian Paez, Churchill Jubac, Deomar Caruscay and Julian Cabatingan.
While their sons were busy playing in San Carlos City, CVFA board members Jose Guy Ceniza and Jhojo Partoso together along with president Rodney Orale and the rest of the CVFA board were busy holding the First President’s Cup, the first football festival in Cebu since the pandemic halted local activities two years ago. With more than 150 teams in from the Mixed Under 9 up to the 50-Above division, the festival signals Cebu’s return to local competitions.
In the national level, eight players from the CVFA made the women’s 18-Under national pool, which will training for a week at the PFF National Training Center inCarmona, Cavite.
The eigth are Celine Beatrice Salazar, Maegan Andrea Alforque, Jodi Marie BAnzon, Rae Mikella Tolentino, Kyza Stephan Colina, Mish Tzishe Castanares, Elisha Lubiano and Maria Andrea Evangelista. The eight are no stranger to national competitions and have been part of national champions in the past.
And in the international level, the CVFA U17 team, which drew Asiop Beru, 1-1, in its first game, scored an impressive 5-1 win over Woodlands Warriors FC in the Garuda Cup in Indonesia. Though it lost its third game, 2-0, to Safin Patifa, its four points in its first international showing is impressive enough.