THE 1ST edition of the Xavier-Ateneo Lotto Football Cup festival is guaranteed to be a sure-fire hit as almost a hundred teams from all over Mindanao are set to join the two-day bootfest.

The 7-Aside festival for Mixed 10, Boys 12, Boys 14, Boys 18, Girls 18, Women’s Open and Men’s Open categories has attracted a total of 95 teams when it kicks-off on Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18, at the Xavier University main Campus pitch in Divisioria.

Official matches will start at 9 a.m. and are expected to end late as the XU main campus pitch will have night lights.

Competitions on Saturday will be in the Mixed 10, Boys 12, Boys 14, Boys 18 and Girls 18 while on Sunday, the contests will be among Men’s Open and Women’s Open categories.

Out of town teams participating include Invitus FC of Gingoog, New Camp United of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Olles FC also of Manolo Fortich, First Fruits Christian Academy, Del Monte School FC, Holy Cross FC of Camp Philips, Golden Harvest FC, Salay FC, Opol FC, Malaybalay FC, Agusan FC, Pinutos FC, Malaybalay United FC, Red Corlas FC of Zamboanga, Iligan FC, and Dansalan City.

Local teams joining include Higala FC, Rosevale School, Bulua Strikers, Xavier University, Abba’s Orchard, Magis Academy, Merry Child, Liceo University, Code Blue, Motortrade, International School, Kauswagan FC, Abba’s Orchard, Black Knights, Sasha FC, Titans, Code Blue, and XU Gors.

Trophies and medals will be at stake. Registration fee for the Saturday competitions are peg at P800 per team while on Sunday registration fee is P1,000 per team.

The tournament is a project of the Xavier University Women’s Varsity football team in cooperation with Italian sportswear giant Lotto.

(l.biantan@gmail.com)