TAKE COVER

Limpag: Atan and Tom’s pissing contest Sun.Star Network Online: "FOOTBALL COVERAGE. I heard that the Cebu Football Association was told to approach me to help improve media coverage of their sport.

I’m flattered but that isn’t necessary.

They only have to make sure that they can be contacted and that they have what reporters need when they have tournaments—details.

When the new board took over, it was a bitch to contact them. When we finally got hold of one member, he or she wasn’t willing to talk. In the end, we just stopped trying to contact them. What for?

When reporters covered their events, it was a waste of time. Their “lineups” had no names, their match reports had no details. Heck, if you ask the referee who scored, he’d say, “Ambot kinsa to.”

To get all the details, you have to be in the venue the whole day, which is impossible because reporters have other responsibilities.

That is why I wrote a few issues ago that the present board had a thing or two to learn from the previous president. Because Jonathan Maximo perfected this, which is why all the events he handled got ample coverage."...

SHS-HJ FOOTBALL TEAM WINS U-17 CROWN

Courtesy of CEBU DAILY NEWS (www.inquirer.net)
December 20, 2007 Thursday issue
By Jonas Panerio, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor

CEBU CITY, Philipppines - The Sacred Heart School-Hijas De Jesus girls football squad added another jewel to their crown after capturing the Girls-17 title in the 1st Patid sa TC Football Festival at the University of San Carlos football pitch in Talamban.

The Pabol FC-managed team breezed through the elimination round with an unblemished 3-0 record, demolishing the SHS-Jesuits, 1-0; Little Angels Montessori School, 12-0; and sister squad, SHS-Hijas Sophies Team, 2-0 to top Group A and earn the right to advance to the women’s open division as well.

In their phenomenal 12-0 victory over LAMS, Bea Maximo and Jackie Ting each submitted hat-tricks, while Erika Casas had two goals. Banban Yu, Mara Dado. Maris ting and Lea-Ann Calejesan also scored.

There, SHS-Hijas were ambushed by the more experienced Bulwarks Women’s Open Team via penalty shootout, 2-0, and then had to settle for a 2-0 win over San Roque FC in the battle for third place match in the women’s open class.SHS-Hijas however, sizzled in the girls-17 title match as they blanked San Roque FC, 2-0, getting a goal each from ace midfielders Casas and Yu, to claim the championship. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio

CIS STAMPS CLASS IN ABOITIZ DIV B

Courtesy of SUN STAR DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.sunstar.com.ph)
February 5, 2007 Monday issue
By Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

THE Cebu International School stamped its authority over a hapless University of the Philippines FC, 8-1, in the first day of the Aboitiz Division B Men’s Cup at the San Roque Parish grounds.

Packed with former national team mainstays Joshua Fegidero and Oliver Colina and Division A veterans Jesus Singson and Eleazer Toledo, plus a slew of talented young players, the game was CIS’ to lose.

However, the gritty UPFC, led by a determined Tyrone Cabañag at goal, managed to hold off the CIS’ offensive early in the first half.

Attack

Michael Sharpe finally broke the bauble in the 29th as he launched a strike just outside the box.

Despite getting attacks from all flanks, the UP defense manage to hold off another goal and a counterstrike almost netted them an equalizer before Red Miguel scoop up a save in his lone action in the first half in the 44th.

A minute later, Fegidero, who is playing in his first game in Cebu since serving a one-year suspension, finally scored his first goal off his left for a 2-0.

Things got worse for UP in the second half, after Fegidero clashed with Cabañag, forcing the keeper to sit out the rest of the match.

Blast

Andrew Oliveros replaced Cabañag and was immediately tested by Fegidero’s powerful blast, but the replacement managed to block it off.

There was no blocking Toledo in the 63rd as he headed in Colina’s corner for the first of his three goals, while substitute Christian Buhisan banged in a rebound in the 68th for a 4-0 score.

In the first game, Reino Amara banged in the go ahead goal in the 80th for FC Inter Cebu’s 3-2 win over XSem Bros.

Lead

Amora and Reynaldo Vallenis gave Inter Cebu a 2-0 lead in the fifth and 10th, before Sherwin Hortel and Michael Gonzales scored in the 29th and 32nd to level the match.

The two other matches also ended in routs with Cebu Institute of Technology blanking Sykes, 4-0, and Maitland Smith routed Ramos FC, 6-0.

Justin Villa, Marvey Quimque, James Dinawanao and Ramon Alarcon scored for CIT, while Renato Maambong scored twice for Smith. Other scorers were Joselito Pacheco, Renato del Carmen, Ariel Esparcin and Jessie Lugnit.

QUEEN CITY UTD LOGS 2ND WIN IN ABOITIZ MEN'S OPEN

Courtesy of THE FREEMAN NEWSPAPER (www.philstar.com)
November 27, 2006 Monday issue
By Marigold P. Lebumfacil
Manny Villaruel, Sports Editor

The Queen City United dumped San Roque Football Club, 6-1, for their second win to pace the action in the Men's Open of the Aboitiz- CebuFA Football Cup at the San Roque Football field in Subangdaku, Mandaue.

Adrian Caballero made two goals in the 28th and 78th , Ronald Mahilum added one the 23rd minute and Christopher Menchavez in 41st minute to kick off the campaign of Queen City United.

Ramie Colina, for his part, ignited the fire for San Roque as he banged in at the 72nd minute but it turned out to be the only goal as his teammates failed to contribute.

Then, Josephat Sacil and Anthony Moga made back-to-back goals in 81st and 85th minutes, respectively, to seal the game for Queen City. Crazy Horse Football Club, on the other hand, tamed Wild Cebu Football Club, 4-0, with goals coming from Kristopher Relucio (37th), Mitsuo Tsunakiri (50th), Rodolphe Lina (65th) and Albert Nangkil in the 83rd minute.

The third game saw Don Bosco logging their second win at the expense of Magone, 4-0, behind the combined efforts of John Genson (70th), Ramil Lachica (74th), Crisanto Sanchez (82nd) and Iry Genson (84th).

Also, University of San Jose-Recoletos overpowered University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 4-1.

The goal scorers for USJ-R were Dave Intong (46th), Jonathan Tan (51st), Mark Buglosa (60th) and Oscar Ledesma (81st) while Jose Fucoy made the solitary goal for USPS in the 48th minute.

QUEEN CITY, CRAZY HORSE TROUNCE FOES IN ABOITIZ CUP

Courtesy of SUN STAR DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.sunstar.com.ph)
November 27, 2006 Monday issue
By Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

FAVORITES Queen City United and Crazy Horse FC tallied their second wins in similar fashion after the second round of the Aboitiz Premier League at the San Roque Parish football field.

Crazy Horse, which outlasted the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation 3-2 last week, trounced Wild Cebu Fashion, 4-0, while Queen City United routed San Roque FC A, 6-1.

Former University of San Jose-Recoletos Kim Relucio slipped into his familiar role as a striker to put Crazy Horse FC up 1-0 in the 37th.

Left unchecked inside the box, Relucio simply tapped in the cross pass from Edelio Ybañez for a 1-0 lead in the half.

Defensive role

In the second half, Relucio slipped back to his defensive role but there was no shortage of firepower on the offensive end as Mitsuo Tsunakiri blasted in a 25-yarder for a 2-0 lead in the 50th before Rodolphe Lina made it 3-0 in the 65th.

In the 70th, Albert Nangkil drove from left flank and slipped past the midfield and the defense to bang in Crazy Horse’s final count.

On the other hand, the comebacking former Carmen National School booter Ronald Mahilum slotted in Queen City’s first goal in the 23rd before Adrian Caballero and Christopher Menchavez made it 3-0 in the 28th and 41st.

Worse half

Ramie Colina put the home team on the score sheet with his 72nd minute strike but things got worse after that. Caballero added his second in the 78th, while Josaphat Sacil and Anthony Moga scored two minutes apart in the final five minutes of play.

Meanwhile the Don Bosco Almuni FC survived a tough first half before burying Magone, 4-0, in the third game.

After a close game, Don Bosco needed only 14 minutes to bury four goals.

John Henson slipped in the first in the 70th, and Ramil Lachica added another four minutes later. In the 82nd Crisanto Sanchez made it 3-0 and Ivy Genson found the back of the net in the 84th.

CEBUFA DENIES HIROSHI REQUEST

CEBUFA DENIES HIROSHI FC'S REQUEST TO RETAIN DIV. A SLOT IN ABOITIZ FOOTBALL
Courtesy of SUNSTAR DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.sunstar.com.ph)
November 21, 2006 Tuesday issue
By Marian C. Baring, Staff Writer

CEBU Football Association (CebuFA) denied Hiroshi Football Club’s request to play in the premiere Division A of the Aboitiz Men’s Open Football League next year.

The Men’s Open defending champion Hiroshi FC, also the former top seed in Division A, skipped this year’s tournament because of lack of players, forcing the team to automatically relinquish the top spot and allowing last year’s runner-up, Crazy Horse , to climb atop the rankings.

The Hiroshi FC management wrote a letter of request to CebuFA asking for a slot in Division A next year instead of being demoted to Division B.

But CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said that to be fair, the committee has decided to deny Hiroshi’s request.

Maximo said if Hiroshi decides to compete next year, the team will have to go through the usual process like the other teams and will need to climb its way up again back into Division A.

“The committee decided on this because there are other teams that were relegated (to the lower division) because they became either inactive or failed to comply with the number of players,” Maximo said.

Meanwhile, the Men’s Open division received an overwhelming response this year after drawing out the participation of thirteen new teams.

Maximo said the number exceeded his expectation of only seven teams for Division B this year.

“These are mostly teams playing in weekend tournaments. CebuFA is able to entice these groups to join us because of the festivals that we have introduced,” Maximo said.

The development, however, entails several problems and the foremost of all is with regards to the scheduling of the games, particularly as to how to finish the tournament on time. (MCB)

ABOITIZ CUP FOOTBALL RESUMES IN MANDAUE

Courtesy of THE FREEMAN NEWSPAPER (www.philstar.com)
November 18, 2006 Saturday issue
By Caecent O. No-ot, Staff Reporter
Manny Villaruel, Sports Editor

Even with the 2006 Cebu City Olympics going on, there's no stopping the 10th Aboitiz-Cebu FA Football Cup as it scheduled to kick off today the competitions in two divisions at the San Roque Football field in Subangdaku, Mandaue.

The Boys 12-under, which started last month, will not have games today to give way to the staging of the boys 15-under class.

There will be a total of 12 teams joining and they are grouped into two groups. Last year, only eight teams competed.

Composing group A are PAREF-Springdale School, Blessed John XXIII Seminary , Don Bosco College-B, Colegio dela Inmaculada-Mandaue, San Roque Football Club and University of San Carlos-North Campus while group B has Abellana National School, Don Bosco College-A, Cebu International School, FC Inter Cebu, Centre for International Education and Sacred Heart School-Jesuit.

Tomorrow, it's going to be the men's premier league that will unfold.

Just like the boys 15 class, the number of entries in the men's open also soared from 14 last year to 24 this year.

"We didn't expect to have this much number of entries," says CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo.

With that, the organizers will have to re-format the tournament system to accommodate all teams.

Teams who will be playing in the Cebu City Olympics are being scheduled on a latter date to avoid conflict.

MAXIMIZE FOOTBALL TO THE MAX? MEET MAXI

Published in SUN STAR DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu)Sunday October 1, 2006 issue
by John Pages, Columnist - Matchpoint

FOOTBALL sent me to school,” says Jonathan “Maxi” Maximo.

Back in college at the University of San Carlos, Maxi was a football varsity star for four years. He wore green, memorized the USC hymn, tied the shoelaces off his spiked shoes, and played right midfield. In college, he didn’t have to reach inside the pocket to pay tuition. He was a full scholar — thanks to his left and right legs.

It is 4:35 last Thursday afternoon and Maxi and I are seated on a round wooden table at Bo’s Coffee in Ayala. He drinks iced coffee, I sip a cup of hot mint tea.

Maxi, 40, the president of the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA), looks quiet and reserved. But when the topic veers towards the game named “F,” as in fun, he straightens his back, leans forward, extends his arms, and speaks.

His story began in Grade 5. A student of Don Bosco, he was exposed to football—like all Bosconians are—at a tender age. By fifth grade, when he tasted the sweat and smelled the joy of kicking a ball into the net, he was hooked. Maxi rocketed out of the classroom door, dashed to the field, hustled, improved his skills, and joined the Don Bosco varsity. In an all-boys school where football rules, the words “I’m varsity” are golden.

“Don Bosco was founded and built by the Italian priests,” Maxi explains. “And we know how much the Italians love football, right?” I nod my head. Didn’t they just win the World Cup?

“In Don Bosco, unlike most schools, our intramurals are held throughout the year,” he adds. “So from 12 to 1 every noontime, we’re off running. It didn’t matter to us if we were sweating when we entered the classroom. What mattered was we played.”

From elementary to high school and on to college, Maxi lived, breathed and wore shin guards after each school bell ring. But when he graduated, life changed. Maxi focused, like we all do, on family—his wife Sheila and their children, Ina, 14; Igi, 11; and Ica, 7. He founded Maximax Systems, and engaged in the sales and services of air-conditioning units.

Family was good. Business was good. Life was good. The football? It was locked inside the cabinet.

But footballers, they say, are footballers for life. Like driving a car, you never forget it. And soon, the love of football tickles you back...

That “soon” was in 2001, when Maxi became president of the Rotary Club of Cebu South. When his term started, he vowed to champion two goals—education and football—and coined a motto: “Football through education. Education through football.”

With the help of a Rotary WCS grant, he approached three public elementary schools— Basak, Labangon, and Punta Princesa — and distributed books to the children. He also did one more thing: introduce football. They donated balls and invited Graeme Mackinnon to speak. The result? “Batang Rotary” was embraced. Very soon, the boys and girls with skinny legs kicked and shot balls that zoomed past goalies.

“You can never forget,” Maxi says, “the smiles on their faces. And since that time, I promised never to leave football.”

Two years later, in 2003, Maxi was elected CebuFA president.

Fast forward to September ’06, football is peerless in this Visayan island. At last week’s 2nd Aboitiz Football Festival, a total of 2,400 players and 216 teams joined—the most ever. You saw cute six-year-olds, brave 43-year-olds, and brackets for 8, 10, 12, 14, and 17 years old. Men’s Open? Women’s Open? Girls high school? Check, check, check. A group for 36-year-olds and older. Soon, a 23-and-under bracket. And very soon, two categories for the children to split the advanced teams from the newcomers—an excellent move.

RP CENTER. Maxi and the CebuFA Board are driven by two goals: One, to spread football not only in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-lapu—but all over the Cebu Province. Two, to dislodge Iloilo and Negros and place Cebu as the center of RP football.

Since Maxi assumed the CebuFA top spot, he’s been all-football. Sometimes, too much football. At the Aboitiz event, he and his team stayed from 6 a.m. until past midnight. Golf at Alta Vista? Goodbye, small white ball. His youngest daughter Ica, only seven, used to enjoy ballet but is now wearing soccer shoes because, as Maxi suspects, “football is all we talk about at the dining table.”

But Maxi’s not complaining. Football’s his passion and there’s so much more to do. He pulls out a two-page handout and shows me the goals of the CebuFA: to introduce Futsal, upgrade the expertise of our coaches, divide the province into eight districts, introduce Sports Medicine...

For with Maxi Maximo, the driver of Cebu football, he steps on the pedal, revs it, kicks the engine into high gear, zooms ahead, and knows only one way to drive this sport: to the max.

(john@brightacademy.edu.ph)

FIFA PLAN: SUMMIT FOR WOMEN IN CEBU

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

If plans don't miscarry, Cebu could host another Asean summit before December, and this one is for women's football.

Cristy Ramos, the deputy chairperson of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Committee, said FIFA is planning a women's football seminar in the Philippines on Sept. 25 to 29 for the 11 Southeast Asian nations plus four other countries.

"I suggested to FIFA to hold the seminar in Cebu because of its central location, and I think it would be excellent to bring the seminar outside of Manila to generate more interest and development from the provinces, especially in the Visayas area. I hope FIFA (and the PFF) will approve Cebu as the venue," Ramos said in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.

Ramos, who is in Australia serving as match commissioner of the AFC Women's Cup, said the tentative topics for the seminar include administration, management, technical development, competitions and marketing.

Growth

If the seminar pushes through in Cebu, it could also help further spur the growth of girls’ football, which has grown tremendously in the last three years.

From just a Women's Open a few years ago, the Cebu Football Association now regularly holds competitions for the Girls 17-Under and 12-Under.

Meanwhile, Ramos, a staunch critic of the PFF, is hoping that the PFF will be fair in choosing whom to invite from the Philippines to attend the seminar.

"I also hope that many people who are especially interested in women's football will be able to take advantage of this," she said.

QUEEN CITY UTD DOWNS SAN CARLOS

Courtesy of CEBU DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.inquirer.net)
July 17, 2006 Monday issue
By Jonas Panerio, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor

Solon waxes hot, scores four goals for Queen City

Queen City United Football Club took off to a sizzling start as it drubbed sister team University of San Carlos (USC) Football Club, 6-1, in the opening game of the Aboitiz Cebu Football Association Women's Open Cup on Sunday at the San Roque Football Field in Mandaue City.

Queen City forward Marlou Solon made mincemeat of USC's defense as she scored four goals in a spectacular display of ball control and precision striking.

Solon started off early, scoring the game's first goal at the 4th minute.

She then added two stellar strikes in the 19th and 23rd minutes of the game before assisting midfielder Jan Salac for Queen City's fourth goal of the game in the 36th minute for an insurmountable 4-0 lead.

Solon scored the last of her goals in the waning moments of the first half as she bobbed and weaved past USC's defenders to score from the right wing.

Queen City finished off the rout with a goal by defender Cristina Fuentes at the 67th minute, after the latter intercepted a pass by USC's goalkeeper and then struck it in to make the tally, 6-0.

USC's lone goal came in the 86th minute off a penalty kick conversion made by Rose Barinan.

ALL SET FOR ABOITIZ CUP FOOTBALL

Courtesy of CEBU DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.inquirer.net)
July 12, 2006 Wednesday issue
By Jonas Panerio, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor

22 events expected in 10th season of tournament

The Cebu Football Association (CFA) and the Aboitiz Group Foundation (AGFI) are raring to set the local football scene on fire as the 10th season of the prestigious Aboitiz Cup unfolds this Sunday at the San Roque football field.

With the World Cup fever still raging, the 10th season of the Aboitiz Cup promises to be bigger and better with 22 proposed events waiting on the list of the football calendar.

“This is a series of football tournaments that will cater to players, both young and old,” said CFA president Jonathan Maximo at the press launch on Tuesday at the AV room of the Aboitiz Corporate Center in Banilad.

Maximo was joined by Jackie Lotzof, Dave Sharpe, PILMICO president Antonio Moraza, Cebu International School superintendent Mark Bretherton and AGFI representative Sonny Carpio.

The Women's Open Cup kicks off the event, with five teams vying for the chance to represent Cebu in the PFF National Women's Open Tournament slated August in Dumaguete City.

Queen City United will start its title defense this weekend against sister team USC in the 1 p.m. opener followed by the Mulbachs FC-San Roque FC tiff at 3 p.m.

Much like last season, the Aboitiz Cup will have two types of tournaments.

The Cup type will still be played every weekend, while the Aboitiz Football Festival starts on September 23 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

A total of 110 teams are expected to compete in the festival, with teams competing in 13 different tournaments based on the players' respective age-groups.

The Cup type on the other hand, doubles as training grounds for Cebu’s future out-of-town delegations.

A total of 233 local teams, totaling 2,523 players, are expected to vie in the 22 events of the Aboitiz Cup, surpassing the 141 teams which took part in the 12 events last year.

Moraza emphasized the role sports play in the development of the youth.

“Sixty percent of the AGF's funds mainly go to the education of underprivileged children. Education, however, is not only academic. There can be no development without competition,” said Moraza. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio

FOOTBALL BODY CREATES AUDIT TEAM

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Thursday, June 29, 2006Football issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has set up an internal audit team to address the issues raised by the National Capitol Region regarding its business transactions.

In a memo sent to the 28 football associations in the country, PFF president Johnny Romualdez appointed Neil Frazer, president of the Misamis-Ozamiz Football Association; Pastor Merced, president of the Negros Oriental Football Association; and Apolonio Clemente Jr., president of the Butuan-Agusan Football Association to the audit team.

Concerns

Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo said those with questions regarding the PFF finances may address their concerns to the three members.

“Among the concerns they are to address are how the FIFA funds are spent, the administrative expenses, who receives what salary and allowances. This is also to help dispel any doubts on the correctness and veracity of the financial report submitted during the Board of Governors Meeting last February,” said Maximo.

Funds

The PFF received P14.3 million from FIFA, P3.6 million from the Asian Football Confederation, and P6.5 million from the Asean Football Federation, as well as the P13 million it is set to receive from other sources, for its P38 million budget this year.

However, the PFF is projected to spend almost all of the money, including P5 million for administration.

The National Capitol Region Football Association earlier asked the PFF to allow its team of auditors and lawyers to look into its business transactions. The PFF denied the request. (ML)

CEBUFA CHIEF: PFF, NCRFA FEUD COULD GET RP SUSPENDED

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Sunday, June 25, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo said the latest infighting between the National Capitol Region Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation could lead to the country’s suspension from the sport’s governing body, FIFA, a fate suffered by basketball, which got suspended by FIBA.

“I can’t remember the name of the country, but FIFA has suspended one member,” Maximo said.

The NCRFA asked the PFF to allow its team of accountants to check the business transactions of the organization and has also asked PFF president Johnny Romualdez to turn over the rein of the PFF to Rene Adad, the former president.

Revocation

The issued stemmed from the PFF’s revocation of its certificate of registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission last Nov. 3, 2003, three weeks before Romualdez was elected president. The revocation was discovered only last May and the NCRFA contested that because of the revocation Romualdez isn’t the legitimate president and is not authorized to act as PFF head.

A check with the FIFA website showed that it suspended the Yemen Football Association for violating Article 17 of the FIFA Statues last year.

Article 17 states: “A member’s bodies shall be either elected or appointed in that association. A member’s statues shall provide for a procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the election or appointment.

“Any member’s bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with the provisions of paragraph one, even on an interim basis, shall not be recognized by FIFA. Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with paragraph one shall not be recognized by FIFA.”

If the PFF does get suspended by FIFA, Maximo said the Cebu Football Association will become just an ordinary sports group.

International tournaments

“We will lose the blessing or mandate to govern football in Cebu. Though we can still continue to hold tournaments, we can no longer join international tournaments,” said Maximo, who was named the head of delegation for the Philippine team, which had three Cebuanos, in the Under-14 Youth Festival in Malaysia last month.

To prevent the issue from getting out of hand, Maximo said he will initiate a move, in conjunction with the other football association presidents, to have the issue settled within the PFF, instead of in court.

The NCRFA plans to bring the issue to court as a last option.

“There should be a consensus with the other FAs because this is affecting everybody already, especially now that there are coming national tournaments and we are set to host the LG Cup in November. We should initiate moves to have an honest-to-goodness meeting between the two parties,” Maximo said. (ML)

RP U-14 BEATS MALDIVES

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Sunday, June 04, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

Paul Taneo, Sports Editor

Team Philippines scored a win in the Asian Football Confederation Under-14 Festival of Football in Malaysia. After dropping all its first three matches without scoring a goal, the Philippines drew with Australia, 1-1, before winning over Maldives, 1-0, in the youth football festival.

However, against Southeast Asian giant Thailand, the powerhouse showed there is still a large gap between potential and tradition as the Thais whipped the Pinoys, 4-0.

“The team somewhat recovered from its first-day jitters and were physically and mentally prepared to play,” said head of delegation and Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.

Cebuanos in the team are midfielder Kevin Tecson, who is on his second stint with the youth squad, defender Evanjames Mendoza, and goalkeeper Joshua Cruz, the youngest member of the team.

Against Australia, Ken Kazuo Hager, a Fil-Swiss based in Davao, struck from left flank to put the Philippines on top, 1-0.

However, Christian de San Juan fouled an opponent in the dying minutes, paving the way for the equalizer by Australia through a penalty. (ML)

NAT'L UNDER-14 FOOTBALL TEAM SWEEPS GAMES

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Sunday, May 28, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

Just a few days before playing its first international tournament, the Philippine national Under-14 team showed positive signs as it swept its two friendlies against Southridge and Ateneo de Manila.

The RP team, which will compete in the Asian Football Confederation Youth Festival, defeated Southridge’s 16-under team, 3-2, last May 24 and the ADMU U-16 squad, 8-0, yesterday.

Joseph Villarino stuck first in the ninth minute inside the box, and Warren Rosillo made it 2-0 in the 13th after redirecting a cross. Henry Llaban added his goals in the 17th and 25th, while Christian de Juan made and Michael Mabanag scored the final two goals in the half for a 6-0 lead.

Direct kick

In the second half, Rob Famador’s perfectly-taken direct kick got past the goalkeeper and de Juan added his second goal seven minutes from time.

“The coaching staff is rotating the players, for them to get a feel on what position they will be playing,” said Cebu Football Association’s Jonathan Maximo.

Maximo was appointed by the Philippine Football Federation as the head of delegation for the tournament.

“Llaban and Mabanag are small but fast players. The attack starts from them and (they are) good in crosses,” Maximo said.

Also with the team are Paref Springdale’s Joshua Cruz, Evanjames Mendoza and Kevin Tecson, who is on his second stint with the national squad. (ML)

MAXIMO TO LEAD RP DELEGATES TO ASIAN UNDER-14 TOURNAMENT

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Thursday, May 25, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

The Philippine team to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Under-14 Football Festival just got another Cebuano in the line-up.

This after Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo was appointed head of the Philippine delegation to the May 29 to June 4 tournament.

This will be Maximo’s second football-related trip to Malaysia after representing the Philippines in the AFC Asian Youth Re-education Course in 2004.

“This won’t be an easy job. I have to leave for Manila tomorrow to check on the team,” said Maximo. “They are having final training now at the Ultra.

“I’ll be out of Cebu for 12 days; I may have to close my company,” Maximo, a businessman, half-jokingly said.

Paref-Springdale’s Joshua Cruz, Evanjames Mendoza and Kevin Tecson are also on the team, which will compete with teams from Indonesia, Maldives, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.

Other members of the team are Florence Agraviador (Negros Occidental), Ronald Batisla-ong (Iloilo), Christian De Juan (Iloilo), Rob Francis Famador (Dumaguete), Irvin Joearl (Cagayan de Oro), Ken Kazuo Hager (Switzerland), Henry Llaban (Iloilo), Michael Mabanag (Quezon City), Jesus Joaquin Melliza (Iloilo), Klieff Ian Pasquin (Iloilo), Warren Rosillo (Cagayan de Oro), Darwin Salavia (Davao City), Ian Soliman (Laguna), Jimer Telebanco (Negros Occidental) and Joseph Villarino (Negros Occidental).

As head of delegation, Maximo will deal with the team’s needs and deal with the local organizing committee. He will also submit a comprehensive post-competition report to the president and the technical development committee of the Philippine Football Federation. (ML)

BRIGHT PLAYS HIROSHI TODAY

Courtesy of SUN STAR DAILY NEWSPAPER (www.sunstar.com.ph)
February 14, 2006 Saturday issue
By Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

As the month of love begins, action heats up in the Red Ribbon Boys Under-16 tournament in San Roque, while four teams vie for the top spot in the final day of the Aboitiz Division B this weekend.

Today, Bright Academy debuts against the dangerous Hiroshi FC in the first Red Ribbon match at 12:30 p.m., before FC Inter Cebu goes for its first win against Blessed John XXIII Seminary in the next match.

Host San Roque FC goes for a win against the reeling Cebu Inmaculada Concepcion-Mandaue.

In its first game, CIC-M got buried, 7-0, by a rampaging Paref-Springdale, while Hiroshi also blanked Don Bosco Boys Home, 2-0, and Don Bosco Technological Center routed FC Inter Cebu, 7-0. Both Springdale and the two Don Bosco teams sit out today’s round.

In the Best Striker race, DBTC’s Francis Buot and Evanjames Mendoza lead the field with three goals a piece, while 10 others have one goal each.

Meanwhile, in the Aboitiz Division B tomorrow, FC Inter Cebu plays Cebu State College of Science and Technology in the first game before the top four teams in the group battle it out in the final two matches.

Hosts SRFC will face leaders Metropolitan FC, while Queen City United goes up against Wild Cebu Fashion. All four teams have a 4-1 mark and have 12 points and are only separated by goal difference.

San Roque needs a win today as it is fourth in the standings, with 22 goals scored, while Wild Cebu is third with 25 and Queen City second with 28. (ML)

CEBUFA TO HOLD TRY-OUTS FOR RP UNDER-14 SQUAD

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Thursday, April 06, 2006 issue

The Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) will hold tryouts tomorrow and on Saturday for the Philippine Under-14 team that will compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-14 Tournament on May 29 to June 4 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said those who will be selected will be included in the training pool that will undergo intensive training.

The tryouts, which will be held at the San Roque football field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City, is open to players born on or after 1992. Players from Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Negros Oriental and other Visayas areas are also expected to join the tryouts.

The tryouts will be conducted by national coach John Carmona to be assisted by Center For Excellence coach Mario Ceniza.

“We have lobbied to the Philippine Football Federation that they should conduct a separate tryout for Cebu since we now have a pool of very good youth players capable of playing for the national team,” said Maximo.

CEBUFA TO HOLD TRYOUT FOR GIRLS UNDER-17 SQUAD

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Tuesday, April 04, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

The young lady footballers of Cebu will have their chance to shine in the national scale in the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) National Under-17 tournament next month in San Carlos City.

Cebu got one slot in the nationals, the first national tournament in the women’s age-group.

“The PFF decided to just hold a national for the Under-17, no more regional qualifiers,” Cebu Football Association (CebuFa) president Jonathan Maximo said.

Top team

Since the CebuFa didn’t hold a local tournament for the Girls Under-17, the group will just hold a tryout for the Cebu City team.

“We expect the core of the team to come from CIS (Cebu International School) since they are one of the top teams in the division,” Maximo said.

CIS, which finished runner-up in the International Schools Activities Conference last month, is still having classes and Maximo is factoring their schedule to the tryouts.

Aside from winning in their age-group in various football festivals, the CIS ladies, coached by Dexter Arrojado, has competed regularly in the Women’s Open for years.

In Cebu, the CIS ladies have strung up consecutive wins in the San Roque Football Fiesta, CIS Friendship, Aboitiz Football Fiesta and the Thirsty Cup.

After the trials, CebuFA is planning to put up a training pool not only for this year’s National Under-17 but for next year also.

“Since we have only a few female players, we can start a training pool also for next year’s tournament, so we can encourage more girls to play,” Maximo said. (ML)

WHY KICKING, NOT DRIBBLING, OUGHT TO BE OUR NO. 1 GOAL

Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 issue

by John Pages, Columnist - Match Point

“FOOTBALL is the world’s most popular sport,” declares Neil Montesclaros. He should know. After juggling that white rubber ball off his feet and knees since Grade 4, Neil is a football fan, player, coach and promoter rolled into one.

For 23 years, he hasn’t missed a single World Cup watch. As a player, his 33-year-old legs, now competing in the Aboitiz Cup, can still out-sprint a teener’s. He’s the head coach of the Don Bosco Alumni Club, a board of director of the Cebu Football Association. Two weeks back, he helped gather a sea of boys and girls in studded shoes that was the Thirsty Cup.

So I asked Neil, “How strong is football in Cebu?” In reply, here’s Neil’s candid look at the game:

When Time magazine was choosing the ‘Athlete of the Century’ between Michael Jordan and Pele, they awarded it to the football legend.

Michael Jordan is great. I’m also his fan. But basketball versus football is no contest in global terms. How can one deny Pele the award when more than two thirds of the world is football crazy?

The scene is different in the Philippines.

Basketball is far more popular here than soccer. Hence, we know where the money goes.

It’s a vicious circle. Football is not fully developed because there are no funds. There are no funds because sponsors find it unpopular. It’s unpopular because the level of play is not fun to watch.

The level of play is not fun to watch because it has poor funding. There we go!

But soccer is a sport we Filipinos can excel in. Height and size – or the lack of them – are not disadvantages. Pele is 5-foot-10 and Maradona, 5-4. Both are soccer gods. How many Filipinos are 5-10 and 5-4? A lot. We are medium built.

We need only to promote soccer. There should be more media mileage. More well-publicized tournaments. More playing fields accessible to all. Once the mania sets in, the funds come in.It’s easier in Cebu.

First, soccer is already more popular in the Visayas than in any other region. Cebu, Iloilo, and Negros are always serious threats in national tournaments. If NCR dominates, a good number of their players are from the south. Imports!

Hence, in Cebu, we are not starting from scratch. That’s something we can build on. Cebu is a small island. News gets around fast. People know everybody. It’s easy to organize things and events. Mobilization is easier. We can make soccer the most popular sport in Cebu.

Soccer is biggest in Iloilo. That’s uncontestable. I went there and saw matches. People are football crazy. It’s like you’re in Europe. Their football fields are in public places – the parks, plazas, right in front of churches! It’s like next to religion. Ordinary people, bystanders, and even beggars are football literate. The location of the fields make all the difference. They’re right at the center of town.

Imagine the same here. The whole island will play soccer! Unfortunately, most of our fields are inside schools, secluded and inaccessible. So what happens? Few people understand soccer. They see few games. Football in Cebu is not for public consumption.

Two weekends ago, this was where the 2nd Thirsty Cup hit the bulls-eye. It promoted soccer by making it public. It provided a fiesta atmosphere to usher a football mania. It created a football stir and ripple. Hopefully, the waves will become stronger year after year, so soccer can turn into Cebu’s pride. It will hit us like a tsunami.

After two years, the Thirsty Cup has grown. There were 89 teams on the list – one less than last year. But this year saw the absence of Sacred Heart Boys and Don Bosco due to conflict of schedule. Had they joined, we could have easily topped 100 teams. That’s 1,000 players in one event! Counting the spectators, that’s 3,000 people in one weekend! This is a good indicator of football development. Like a thermometer that gauges Cebu’s soccer fever.

Graeme Mackinnon I next asked, “What makes football big in Cebu?”

The Australian with a Cebuano heart (he is a Cebu Hall of Fame awardee) e-mailed back:

“First, the all-out push for football at all age-groups (male and female) as well as regional and national championships by the Cebu Football Association. Pessimism has been swept aside with optimism. Never in the past has Cebu bid for the hosting of so many tournaments.

“When Jonathan “Maxi” Maximo came in as CebuFA president he brought in a saying, ‘All for football and football for all.’ I think that typifies the Cebuano football attitude.

“Second, the proliferation at the grassroots level. There are players today who are just five years of age. Of course, when these tiny tots play, their parents come along. They bring with them a family aspect to the game that was not there before.

“More and more private schools are now beginning to play football. Then there are public elementary schools who are also beginning to form teams.

“Finally, if the SRP athlete’s village will eventuate then that will give a real boost to soccer.”

Thanks to Neil, Graeme and Maxi, football in Cebu isn’t only alive. It’s kicking.