A NEW LOOK Leylam Football Club returns to action in the 19th Aboitiz Football Cup, which kicks off on Sept. 16 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Last March, Leylam Football Club head coach Oliver Colina announced that the club would take a break from joining football tournaments. This was announced right after the team won back-to-back titles in the men’s open of the Aboitiz Football Cup.
But yesterday, Colina said the team will make a comeback in the league with a new look. He also clarified that the team did not disband after their success in the previous edition of the tournament.
“We did not disband, we only took a break,” Colina said in a press conference yesterday at the Leylam Shawarma office along V. Rama avenue in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Joining Colina were Leylam Shawarma senior manager in business and development Inah dela Cerna, men’s open team captain Ruffy Llorente, inter-company team captain Ranulfo Colina and key player Rjay Sanchez.
“We are bringing Leylam Football Club to a higher level. Our club took an entire season to rest and now we are ready to unwrap a new experience both for the club and the company itself,” said Dela Cerna.
Colina said the decision to rebrand came at a perfect time when the league also showcased its new colors.
“Our announcement of competing in the Aboitiz Football Cup is very timely since Leylam Shawarma is also having undergoing re-branding,” Colina said.
Just last Wednesday, the league unveiled its new logo and its directions for the next year in a press conference at The Outlets at Pueblo Verde in Lapu-Lapu City.
Leylam FC will also be showing off a new color scheme this year. From the signature red color of Leylam Shawarma and Leylam FC, the team will introduce the black color for a cleaner and fresher look.
“We slowly changed the company’s colors from wrappers to our stalls since May and soon we will unveil the club’s new uniforms that will be used during Aboitiz Football Cup,” said Dela Cerna.
According to Colina, part of Leylam’s long-term goal is to hold its own football tournament next year. It also plans to compete in the Philippines Football League (PFL).
For the meantime, focus will be on trying to clinch a grand slam in the Aboitiz Football Cup. The team is also going to Vietnam to compete in the Saigon Cup in November.
The club will hold try-outs on Monday at the San Roque football field in Mandaue City for their men’s open roster,