ON ITS 21st year, the AboitizLand Football Cup (AFC) looks to its past as it prepares for its future. The AFC honored the Cebuano players who played in the league and made waves in national and international events during the 2018-2019 season during the opening ceremony of Cebu’s biggest football tournament at the SM City Seaside on Sept. 14, 2019.

The awardees were Milo FC Barcelona 2018 players Alexander Villarosa, Tristan Ybanez and Jelena Soon; Allian Team Pinas members Cj Songalia of Don Bosco and Jodie Banzon of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu; and Nofa Under-12 Philippine team Renzo Enriquez, Mark Talingting and Ethan Roxas.

Also awarded were members of the national team--Rae Tolentino, Maegan Alforque, Andrea Evangelista and Elisha Lubiano of the Girls U15 team, Kaj Amirul, Andres Custado, Simon del Campo, Eugene Tillor and Josh Asignar of the boys U16 team and Christian Agot and Loyd Soco of the Boys U18 team..

The teams that shone in various sporting meets were also recognized: The Batang Pinoy champions boys’ Under-13, girls’ Under-13 and boys’ Under-15.

The Don Bosco Technological Center received an award for winning the elementary division in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao City.

Apple Barinian was also awarded for being the county’s Under-15 women’s coach.

“For two decades, we’ve been honing talents and some of them are now competing in regional, national and even international level,” AboitizLand vice president for Corporate Resources Philbright “Boni” Ang Ti said. “We wish everyone a good game and a bright future in football.”

Central Visayas Football Association Inc. president Rodney Orale thanked Aboitiz for its continued support to football, not just in Cebu but in the Visayas.

“It has been 21 productive years. It would not be possible without the great support from Aboitiz. We thank them for their continued support to football’s development,” he said.