Two weekends from now — on March 28, 29 and 30 — Cebu will once again become the epicenter of football as the 19th edition of the Thirsty Football Cup kicks off. With several days remaining before the registration deadline on March 16, over 200 teams have already signed up. This translates to more than 3,000 participants from across the country, all set to compete at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
The Thirsty Football Cup began in 2004. My brother Charlie, who was then helping run Thirsty Juices and Shakes, teamed up with friends Chad Songalia and Neil Montesclaros to launch the event. (Milky Cañete, now one of the event’s lead officials, joined the team of organizers a few years after.)
In its early years, games were held at the Ayala grounds (Cebu Business Park), where the Solinea and Avalon buildings now stand. Some of the venues in the past 18 editions included the USC Talamban field, Bright Academy and San Roque Parish.
The 19th Thirsty Football Cup has also aligned itself from the very start with the sport’s governing body in the region, the Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA), headed by CVFA president Engr. Rodney Orale.
CATEGORIES. For 19 years, the Thirsty Football Cup has grown into one of the country’s largest and most anticipated football festivals. This year, teams will compete across multiple divisions, ranging from youth categories to seasoned veterans. The categories and their maximum entries are: Players 7 (16 teams), Players 9 (20 teams), Players 11 (20 teams), Girls 15 (10 teams), Girls 17 (20 teams), Boys 13 (20 teams), Boys 15 (20 teams), Boys 17 (20 teams), Boys 19 (20 teams), Women’s Open (16 teams), Men’s Open (40 teams), Mixed Open (10 teams) and 40 Above (10 teams).
The Thirsty Football Cup is a tournament for all ages. It features children as young as five and fathers beyond 50 years old. Participants include school-based squads, corporate groups, including BPO-based clubs; collegiate teams and even barkadas who’ve bonded together because of the love of the world’s most popular sport. Each category will recognize a “Most Valuable Player,” honoring outstanding individual performances.
REGISTRATION. The registration deadline — originally set for March 6 — has been extended to March 16, allowing teams additional time to finalize their rosters. (Out of the 232 maximum number of teams, less than 30 slots are available. Those interested to join may visit the Thirsty Football Cup Facebook Page for more information.)
An important date for the 19th Thirsty Football Cup is March 17 at 3 p.m., when the mandatory coaches’ meeting will take place. All registered teams must attend, as crucial details such as match schedules, tournament rules and key guidelines will be discussed. The meeting details are: for Cebu-based teams, UNITY Coffee & Vinyl, Don Jose Avila, Cebu City; for teams outside Cebu: a virtual session will be available via Zoom.
A CELEBRATION OF FOOTBALL. For nearly two decades, the Thirsty Football Cup has been more than just a tournament — it has become a festival of football, a gathering of passionate athletes, and a testament to the sport’s ever-growing presence in Cebu and the Philippines.
With 19 days to go before the kickoff of the event’s 19th edition, the anticipation is building. Players are training and out-of-town teams are finalizing their schedules and travel plans.
As Diego Maradona once said: “To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiest man in the world.” For thousands set to take the field, that joy — the simple thrill of the game — awaits.