Organizers of the Thirsty Football Cup (from left) John Pages, Bunny Pages, Chad Songalia and coach Glenn Ramos. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Even with more teams, Thirsty Football Cup organizers promise better management of tournament
Organizers of the Thirsty Football Cup are confident that the 13th edition of the annual tournament will go smoothly despite the bigger number of participants.
The tournament is set to begin this Friday and will last until Sunday at the Cebu City Sports Center football pitch.
In a press conference held on Tuesday at the Kan-Anan Restaurant Robinsons Galleria Cebu branch, organizers revealed that 250 teams will be competing in the tournament. This is more than the 200 that joined last year’s edition.
To make sure that the quality of the tournament won’t be jeopardized, organizers made limited the number of teams and registration was done on a first come, first served basis.
Organizer Chad Songalia said they did this because of the limited venue and so that they could manage the tournament better.
All in all, around 2,500 booters will be competing in the tournament that will have 13 divisions. These are Mixed Under 7 (12 teams), Mixed Under-9 (22 teams), Mixed Under-11 (28 teams), Boys Under-13 (24 teams), Girls Under-15 (24 teams), Boys Under-15 (24 teams), Boys Under-18 (24 teams), Girls Under-18 (10 teams), Boys Under-23 (12 teams), Girls Under-23 (4 teams), Men’s Open (38 teams), Ladies Open (15 teams) and the 38-Above division (10 teams).
OUT-OF-TOWN TEAMS
Chairman and CEO of Pages Holdings, Inc. (PHI) Bunny Pages said that the company is “committed to do this tournament year in and year out” for the development of the sports in the region.
Out-of-town teams will clash in the three-day event.
Among those sending representatives are San Carlos City, Silliman University (Dumaguete), Iloilo, Ateneo de Davao University, Tacloban, Rosevale (Cagayan de Oro), Misamis Oriental, Balamban, Bantayan Island, VISCA Baybay Leyte, Maasin Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Hilongos Leyte, Manila and Butuan, which will compete here for the first time.
On Friday, the event starts at 5:30 p.m. beginning with the Under 7 and 9 divisions.
Saturday competitions will feature Under 9, 11, 15 (girls), 18 and 23 (boys and girls) while Sunday action will showcase the competition in the boys’ Under 15, Under 18 (boys and girls) and 38-Above division.
Further details about the tournament can be found in Facebook.com/ThirstyFootballCup.