2nd BRO bootfest unwraps today

CEBU, Philippines - Over a thousand booters led by some members of the celebrated Philippine Azkals are all set to plunge into action as the 2nd BRO National Football Festival unfolds today at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City. 

A good number of out-of-town squads will be taking part in the three-day event including from Tacloban, Bohol, Bacolod, San Carlos City, Davao, Butuan and Dipolog.

Azkals team captain Chieffy Caligdong is currently in town to grace the opening, while his teammates Ian Araneta, Nestorio Margarse and Roel Gener will see action in the men's open division either with Team ERCO or with the BRO Nationals.

More than winning though, Caligdong and his teammates are here with the hope of inspiring the young ones to play their best and be like them someday.

“I'm not here to promote myself, but to encourage more talents in football. It's really good that they have someone to look up to," said Caligdong in a press conference at Casino Español the other day.

Caligdong, on the other hand, has forged a partnership with the trio behind this event - Keith Buyco, Glenn Ramos and Rodney Orale - for his “Football Para sa Bayan”, an advocacy supporting a social mobilization campaign of 'Bayanihang Pampaaralan' which aims to raise funds to build 10,000 classrooms in public schools nationwide.

The noble project, spearheaded by the League of Corporate Foundations and the Philippine Business for Social Progress in partnership with the Department of Education, aims to remedy the classroom backlog in the country.

“The BRO Football Festival is not just about fun, but real football development. Nakikita ko kasi yung direction na patutunguhan ng mga kids someday. Pag may makikita kaming potential na players, i-endorse namin sa national coaches para mas matutukan pa,” said Caligdong.

Among the categories to be contested in the BRO tilt are the players 7, 8, 9 and 10, boys 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19, girls 14 and 17, executive 36, inter-BPO and the premiere men's and women's open.

"Here, we can see the level of skills. You could really see the difference when an 11-year-old play in his own age bracket and at the same time if they play with older kids," said Cebu Football Association (CFA) Board Member Raffy Musni.

The second edition of the annual football festival is supported by Gatorade, Molten, Globe, Elan Vitra Diagnostic Solutions, ERCO, Aboitiz Land, MSY Holdings Corporation, Greenwich, Thinking Tools, Dakay Construction and Development Corporation, Fuji Xerox, Nonki, and Nature's Spring. (FREEMAN)