SOME of the best Boys Under-17 teams will clash for the crown in the Hyundai Cup Champions’ League 2019 at the Fr. Julian Hernando SJ Athletic Field in Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Mandaue City campus on April 26 to 28.
“The tournament gives a boost to Cebu’s football grassroots development. The grassroots players should take this opportunity to develop their skills on and off the field,” said Rodney Orale, president of the Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA), during a press conference on Thursday, April 25.
Defending champion SHS-AdC will return to compete in the third edition together with perennial contenders in Cebu North: University of San Carlos, Gannet FC of San Carlos City and Cebu Elite Under-15 team in the Group B.
Group A will have Cebu South: Don Bosco Technical College, Cebu Province: KNF-DBBH, Bohol’s Gaher FC and Sagay City.
The organizers said the Cebu Elite Under-15 is the replacement for Tacloban City, which backed out from the tournament due to the recent magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit Eastern Visayas last April 23.
Orale said the organizing team is looking at the bigger picture for this event in line with the goal to provide more 11-a-side tournaments for the 17-Under age group.
“The tournament has brought impact to the youth. Hopefully, it will grow over the years. We are looking to bring football to other areas in Visayas where we can help,” he added.
Hyundai’s marketing manager Donna Lynn Boniel said the company is there to support the sport and hopes to see the event grow bigger in the coming years.
For its title-retention bid, the SHS-AdC will field a mix of training pool and regular players.
“We will most likely be fielding players from the second training but there will be regulars as well. The rest of our regular players are currently playing in YFL (Youth Football League Association Inc.),” said SHS-AdC head coach Oliver Colina.
Every group will play a round-robin elimination with the top two advancing to crossover semifinals. The semifinal winners will battle for the coveted title, while the losers play for third.
The opening day highlight will be the double-header schedules of Cebu Province: KNF-DBBH and SHS-AdC.
Cebu Province: KNF-DBBH battles Cebu South: Don Bosco Technical College in the curtain opener, and will take on Sagay City next, while SHS-AdC faces Cebu North: USC and Gannet FC of San Carlos City. (RSC)