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Friday, July 28, 2006
Cebu to pit skills against toughest Visayan booters
By Marian C. Baring
Sun.Star Correspondent
Cebu will be field a powerhouse team in the Philippine Football Federation-CebuFA Visayas Men's Under-17 Finals, which opens today at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit Football Field.
CebuFA head coach Mario Ceniza said he has a talented crew but admits things could always go wrong.
"Some (opposing) team members have played for the national youth team and have competed in international events, while some have their stints in the Palarong Pambansa. But I am praying that the home court advantage would work to our side," said Ceniza.
"Because of the classes, we failed to hold practices together. Aside from the homecourt, I also hope the draw will work to our advantage since as host we have the prerogative to choose the schedule," he said.
Toughest
After months of postponement, CebuFA will finally see action going against the toughest in the region to gain the right to represent Visayas in the national finals.
Cebu will only be pitting skills with booters from defending regional champs Iloilo and Bacolod after Dumaguete failed to form a team in time.
The Cebu team has been practicing since summer, but Ceniza could not give a confident forecast.
"We do not know the caliber of our opponents and anything can happen," he said.
Ceniza, however, is convinced that his wards will give a good fight, as he banks on his players' experience as their main weapon.
The core team of the CebuFA comes from Paref-Springdale, which won in the Aboitiz Under-15 Cup. Ceniza tapped reinforcements from Cebu International School, Don Bosco College, Abellana National School and Camp Lapulapu.
Hope
Ceniza pins his hopes on the youngest and tallest member of the team, striker Evan James Mendoza, who played for the National Under-14 team.
"He is about 5'9 and he is only 14 years old yet he already represented the country in a tournament in Malaysia last May," he said.
Ceniza will also be leaning on Palarong Pambansa standouts TJ Matteo (Springdale), Michael Sharpe (CIS), Jordan Diao (Abellana) and goalkeeper Paolo Pascual (Springdale).
Sharpe, who plays midfield, also played for the RP Youth Team alongside Paolo Cases, when they competed in the Thailand. (MCB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 28, 2006 issue)
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