WHEN Anton del Rosario signed up as brand ambassador for Leylam FC late last year, the Cebu football community warmly welcomed his arrival.
Many couldn’t help but wonder, though, if he’s hatching something special for Cebu.
Del Rosario’s partnership with Leylam inked sometime in November 2019 was the latest of developments that the brand with its club has rolled out.
Leylam’s plans are going as planned. And if you pass along Gen. Maxilom Ave., you wouldn’t miss a huge Leylam FC billboard featuring del Rosario flanked by eight club players from the men’s and women’s teams.
But what exactly is del Rosario bringing to the football table?
A former Philippine Azkals defender, del Rosario is the founder of the Philam Life 7s Football League, and his regular visits in Cebu led finally to the hosting of the second Philam Vitality Kampeon Cup here. The three-day seven-a-side tournament will be held from March 13 to 15 at the new Dynamic Herb Borromeo Sports Complex at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.
Del Rosario had wanted to bring the Kampeon Cup much earlier, but the Dynamic Herb field still needed finishing touches back then.
In the Kampeon Cup, all-star squads from Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao will duke it out for the title as the country’s best 7s football side.
Defending champions Leylam FC (which won the inaugural title at the expense of del Rosario’s team last year) will represent Cebu.
The Central Visayas Football Association, which is supporting the cup, will also field a selection team.
“The Kampeons is more than just football. There’s also a bit of pride there with the players representing their hometown,” del Rosario said at a press conference in Leylam Ayala Center Cebu.
On the life insurance company’s end, Philam Life’s sponsorship of the league is part of its game-changing wellness program that encourages Filipinos to live healthier, longer lives, engaging in sports like football, for one.
Now on its fifth season, the Philam Life 7s Football League is in expansion mode with presence in multiple cities across the country: Taguig, Muntinlupa, Clark, Bacolod, Davao and Iloilo.
With his corporate and community partners, del Rosario carries a vision that could help change the landscape of Philippine football.
“Holding the games in the different regional hubs will also help us gain a stronger foothold in the various regions with the local talents front and center of the games,” del Rosario said.
“And through this, we hope to unify the leagues to show that football is huge in the Philippines,” he added.
Right now, football stakeholders are coming up to him asking to set up leagues in their areas.
“By August this year we’re looking at 10 leagues all over the country,” del Rosario said.
With his partners and the football community’s support, del Rosario’s goals and vision are fast taking shape, one seven-a-side kick at a time.