4th Sinulog bootfest on today

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 168 teams will vie for top honors as the 4th Sinulog Football Festival unfolds today in two separate venues at the San Roque Parish field and at the Aboitiz Sports Field both in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue  City.

Action today at the Aboitiz Sports Field features the mixed under 7, 9 and 11  categories along with the girls 15 and 18. Over at the newly-renovated San Roque Parish field, games will be for the boys under-18, 15 and 13.

The men's open will take place tomorrow yet at the Aboitiz field, while the inter-BPO, inter-company, 38-above and the ladies open will be played at San Roque.

The men's open has the most number of entries with 25 teams followed by the under-18 with 24 and the 38-above with 12.

The organizing Cebu Football Association gives due credit to Super Metro for bankrolling the two-day tilt especially after the Sinulog Foundation could not back them up financially this time.

"Super Metro came just in time because we really needed funding for this event. We hope that Super Metro will continue to help promote Cebu football after this," said CFA secretary-general Joey Herrera in a press conference yesterday at Casino Español.

This year's Sinulog Cup introduces new cut-off years for the participants.

"Hopefully the coaches will take note of this already that when it's a new year, players also belong to a new age group," said CFA Vice President Rico Navarro.

Aside from the cut-off of age, the Sinulog Festival is also expected to be the basis for all other festival-type tournaments in terms of ground rules. This is to avoid confusion for the part of the players especially the kids. (FREEMAN)