THE Cotabato kids of the Mount Apo Regional Football Association (Marfa) is turning heads here in the Nofa Cup football tournament after their shock 3-1 win over the highly touted Barotac Nuevo FC at the Sta. Maria field in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
The kids of Philippine Football Federation (PFF) vice president Joselito Piñol have assured themselves of an outright entry to the quarterfinals with three wins after they also disposed of the Zanfifa Dipolog, 11-1, earlier.
Their only loss was from the hands of superpower and host Dynamic FC, 11-2, in the opening day. They also won over 07 Eagles, 6-1, in the opening to keep a 3-1 slate and second place in Group A with nine points behind leader Dynamic FC which remains undefeated with four wins.
Marfa will still meet winless Bacong FC of Negros Oriental to insure their safe passage to the quarterfinals.
Marfa, Davao Grassroots and Golden Harvest of Bukidnon are three teams from Mindanao which remain in contention for the quarterfinals.
The Davao kids are in second place in Group C with nine points and will still play the lowly Green Global in their last elimination round assignment. Davao won over Nosirfa 6-3, and eliminated Springdale 4-3.
Golden Harvest FC kids of Valencia City, Bukidnon remain in contention also after finishing third in Group B with two wins, one draw and lone loss. They whipped NDTCGS Stallions of Maguindanao, 7-0, but suffered a 0-3 loss to LGU Barotac Nuevo.
The have to win against lowly Southridge in their last assignment to barge into the quarters. Despite of placing third in their group they can still join the quarters as one of the best third placer in the groups.
Aimagne Kurt Sarip scored two goals while Arvin Alayon added one for Marfa to shock the Barotac boys. “Our program is starting to bloom,” said Marfa coach Samuel Sarip of Kidapawan, North Cotabato.
He thanked the officials of MARFA for their all-out support. They are grooming this team to play for the Region 12 regionals for this year.
Deputy coach Doy Vasquez of the town of M’lang also in North Cotabato, for his part thanked the parents and the officers of Marfa for supporting the team to become the best team from Mindanao in the ongoing competition.
“We have invested so much for this team. We thank Marfa president and M’lang mayor Joselito Piñol for his endless support,” he said.
Day 2 results:
Group A
Dynamic FC 8 vs 0 07 Eagles; Zandifa Dipolog 1 vs 11 Marfa; Bacong FC 0 vs 4 Barotac Nuevo FC; 07 Eagles 6 vs 0 Zandifa Dipolog; Dynamic FC 8 vs 0 Bacong FC; Marfa 3 vs 1 Barotac FC
Group B
Golden Harvest FC 7 vs 0 NDTGS Stallions; Southridge 0 vs 5 Blue Brothers; LGU Barotac Nuevo 6 vs 0 Don Bosco Cebu; NDTCGS Stallions 2 vs 1 Southridge; Golden Harvest 0 vs 3 LGU Barotac Nuevo; Blue Brothers 4 vs 0 Don Bosco Cebu
Group C
ONE La Salle 1 vs 0 Malaya FC; Nosirfa 3 vs 6 Davao Grassroots; Green Global 5 vs 1 Springdale; Malaya FC 2 vs 5 Nosirfa; ONE La Salle 4 vs 0 Green Global; Davao Grassroots 4 vs 3 Springdale
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