STARTED with 306 teams back in 2014, the 5th edition of Ceres Cup broke its record anew with 532 teams from across the country seeing action in the two-day tournament which will kick off Saturday and to be played simultaneously at the Ceres FC North Field, Sta. Maria Football Field and Carlos Hilado Memorial State College football field, all in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
This 7-A-Side tournament will feature the following age-groups and number of teams for Day 1 include mixed 9 (45 teams), boys 12 (55 teams), boys 14 (40 teams), girls 13 (8 teams), ladies 18 (40 teams), boys 17 (45 teams), and men’s 40 (20 teams).
On Day 2, among the categories to be contested and the number of teams competing are mixed 10 (45 teams), boys 13 (50 teams), boys 15 (35 teams), girls 16 (30 teams), boys 18 (35 teams), Ladies Open (30 teams), and Men’s Open (60 teams).
Aside from the thousands of players converging in the three playing venues, around 10,000 parents and spectators are also expected to join the two-day event.
This event has been a vision of Ceres FC manager Leo Rey Yanson to provide a football festival aimed at giving enthusiasts the opportunity to foster and exhibit sportsmanship in a competitive, safe, and friendly environment. Unknowingly, it became an encouragement and promotion of football development in the country making it the most popular in terms of participation aside from being an example of sports tourism.
Heading the staging of the tournament is Ceres Negros FC club administrator Nicolas Golez, and competitions administrator Warren Concepcion.