The Acosta Cup, a Davao City-based football tournament which has been running for 12 years, is not just a typical venue for skills development but rather a vessel for local lady booters to learn values and gain opportunities to further their football careers said its organizer Davao City Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta.
Speaking during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the SM City Davao Annex on Thursday, Acosta said that the long-running bootfest has become beneficial for players especially from non-school-based teams such as the SOS Children’s Village as it has provided a venue to develop their skills and values.
“Katong mga dili school-based na players, nalipay sila kay naa sila’y opportunity na medevelop ilang skills ug nahimo pud ning incentive for discipline and para magambisyon sila,(The non-school-based players are happy since they have found an opportunity to develop their skills while it has also become an incentive for discipline and for them to have an ambition.)” Acosta said adding that the coaches have played a significant role in inculcating values to the players.
She also believes that the Acosta Cup has made contributions to the development of national-level players who have earned spots to represent not only the city but the country as well.
Acosta also welcomed the idea of adding more teams from other provinces in the region saying that they may discover more talented booters outside of Davao City.
The 12th Acosta Cup kicked off earlier this month at the Tionko Football Grounds with a total of six teams competing.
Aguilas Dabaw Football Club is currently on top of the heap as they emerged victorious in their two games while Soya Football Club is second in the standings with one win. Philippine College of Technology (PCT)-Khanj and Punta-DDS are tied with identical 1-1 win-loss records while Nakamata Kickers and the University of the Philippines (UP)-Mindanao Football Club have yet to enter the winning column.
Games will resume on November 7 which will feature matches between Nakamata Kickers and Aguilas and SOYA against Punta-DDS.
Trophies and medals await the winners of the Davao Football Association (DFA)-backed bootfest. It is also sponsored by the City Mayor’s Office, Vibrant Earthmovers, Bin Jaime Enterprises, Ulticon Builders Inc. and RDL Pharmaceutical Laboratory Inc.