THERE are two football tournaments this weekend, the 8th Sinulog Football Cup and the Grassrotos Football League,a three-division tournament organized by Oliver Colina that rotates in four venues.
The GFL started last December and invited teams that didn’t join the Aboitiz Cup, hence avoiding a conflict. Save for Giuseppe, the participants are usually teams that need more matches as they are rarely contenders in big tournaments.
The tournament has a noble purpose and knowing Coach Bingbing, isn’t one designed to earn money. But there’s a bit of a problem, it’s not sanctioned by the Cebu Football Association and hence, isn’t part of the football calendar.
The CFA football calendar is one of the innovations that impressed then Meralco FC media officer Bob Guerrero when he came over to visit. It synchronizes the year’s calendars and makes sure there is no conflict.
It also was, to be honest, a welcome change to the conflicting schedules of years past, when two, or sometimes three events, are in one weekend, involving the same teams. I remember covering a tournament in USC-TC, another one in Ayala, and yet another one in Abellana. That resulted to one team’s players suffering cramps because it was invovled in two finals.
I’m not saying GFL’s entry will lead to that, I’m just hoping that the GFL organizers will consider having their event sanctioned and be included in the football calendar. It’s also a sign of respect towards the local FA and avoids getting coaches— who are getting their licenses--in peculiar situations. (One coach registered his team for the Sinulog Cup but the players’ parents insisted on joining the GFL.)
If GFL finds the referees fees of the CFA too expensive, then perhaps the two can meet in the middle or find an alternative solution? You see, I think GFL’s entry in the football community is something that could benefit everyone, so I hope it becomes part of the official calendar.
We are long past the days of conflicting schedules and we’ve shown the PFF how to fix a chaotic calendar, one that ought to be applied in other Fas. LAST ROUND IS ON THE LAST ROUND. Today’s last round is on the man himself who dishes it out regularly, Jingo Quijano, who crooned his way to 46 last Saturday. Cheers!