By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — The Ceres Friendship Football Festival will be held in three playing venues here and Talisay City from May 17 to 18.
Participating teams are from Cebu, Manila, Iloilo, Dumaguete City, Davao, Negros Oriental and host Negros Occidental.
The three playing venues are the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) and the Ceres Football Club (FC) North football field, both in Talisay City, and the Ceres FC Mandalagan field here.
“This 1st Ceres Cup 7-a-Side Football Tournament will be held as part of the vision of Ceres-La Salle Football Club manager and owner Leo Rey Yanson,” said Warren Concepcion, the competition committee head.
Yanson is the organizing chairman while Nicolas Golez is vice chairman of the festival organizing committee.
The tournament aims to provide football enthusiasts with the chance to foster and showcase sportsmanship in a safe and friendly yet competitive environment, Concepcion said.
Different game categories are Under-9 and Under-10, all open to boys, girls or mixed teams; Under-11, Under-12 and Under-13, all for boys; Under-14 boys and girls; Under-16 boys; Under-18 men and ladies; Under-20 men; men’s and women’s open; and 38-Above.
The CHMSC pitch will host 24 teams in the Under-9 category, 28 teams in Under-10, 34 teams in Under-12, 24 Under-11 and 17 in Under-13.
Ceres FC Mandalagan will be for Under-14 girls with nine teams; Under-18 boys, 16 teams; and Under-20 men, 10 teams.
Ceres FC North, the main venue, will be for 24 Under-14 boys’ teams, 29 Under-16 boys’ squads, 29 teams in Under-16 contest, 16 in Under-18 ladies, 34 in men’s open, 23 in women’s open; and 10 in 38-Above./PN
