THE City of Bacolod gears towards the staging of the 1st Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran Futsal festival set on September 21 to 22, at the Bacolod City National High School gymnasium at Remetio Avenue, formerly Libertad Extension, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City.
Futsal is a variant of association football played on a hard court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors.
It features similarities to five-a-side football. Futsal is played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Unlimited substitutions are permitted, (Wikipedia).
Vice Mayor Familiaran said there are 29 teams that signified to participate in the Futsal festival coming from various private and public schools.
There are four tournament categories such as Under 13 Boys, Under 17 Boys; Under 17 Girls and Ladies Open.
The schools that will participate in the Futsal festival include (Under 13 Boys): Education and Training Center School 1, Bata Elementary School 2, UNOR - RAMS, Montevista Elementary School, Mabini Elementary School, R.A. Medel Sr. Elementary School, St. John’s Institute, Universal F. C. and Rizal Elementary School.
Under 17 Boys category: Handumanan National High School, Luisa Medel National High School, STI West Negros University and Bacolod City National High School.
Under 17 Girls category: Bacolod City National High School, Sum-ag National High School, UNO-R, Ronnin Hiyas United F.C., Bata National High School Tigers F.C., St. John’s Institute, NOHS Panthers F.C. and Trinity Christian School and the Ladies.
Open category: UNO-R RAMS, NOHS Panthers F.C., BCNHS, USLS F.C., Bata National High School Tigers F. C., FUTSGAL Lasalle, St. Scholastica’s Academy and M.G. Medalla Integrated School.
This sports event is sanctioned by the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) under NOFA President Ricky Yanson.
Vice Mayor Familiaran said, “Futsal is very interesting. This is a new sport that was introduced and played in the Olympics, Sea games and Palarong Pambansa. This is more on fellowship where parents can enjoy watching their sons and daughters playing futsal. This is one way to hone the skills of our youth who are sports buffs and enthusiasts. We provide them the opportunity to get the needed training and competition. There is a saying that says practice makes perfect and we are here to provide them the opportunity to get their skills sharpened.”
Local well-known football personalities namely Montano “Taroc” Mondia, III, an International Football referee and Loreto “Tagoy” Kalalang, a pioneer member of the Philippine Team (Askalz) and a retired Philippine Navy football player are part of this FUTSAL organizing team.
Vice Mayor Familiaran invites everyone to enjoy and be part of the 1st futsal festival. “This is for all Bacolodnons. Let’s engage ourselves in sports,” he said.