CR7 Food Truck Football Club of Davao City brought home four international awards from the Super Cup 2025 Bootfest held June 7 and 8 at the National Training Center in Nong Chok, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Davao-based grassroots team sent 42 players to compete across four age groups against clubs from Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam. CR7 placed second in the U8 plate division, fourth in the U10 cup division, and third in both the U14 and U16 bowl divisions.
“There were three divisions in the tournament – Cup, Plate, and Bowl – and our kids placed in all of them. That’s already a big win for grassroots football from Davao,” said team manager Liza Kristel Dureza-Valencia at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum Thursday, June 19, at The Annex of SM City Davao.
Valencia thanked Eneos Youth, the club’s sponsor, for making the international trip possible. “We are very thankful. We did not expect that a small football club like ours would be supported by Eneos. This has been a big step,” she said.
CR7 was one of only two Philippine teams in the tournament.
CR7 was one of only two Philippine teams in the tournament. “The competition level was high,” said Technical Director Arman M. Valencia. “We submitted four full categories representing Davao, and it was a challenge playing against international teams.”
Coach Roland Manabit pointed to their training focus as key to their performance. “We worked on the kids’ speed and decision-making. When you’re small and lack speed, your chances are low. But our players pushed through,” he said. “Your ranking on the first day determines which division you’ll enter. We made it to the Cup and other divisions based on performance.”
Valencia said the club hopes to join more international tournaments. “We’re hopeful this is just the start,” he said. “We want to keep representing the country, especially if Eneos continues to support grassroots football.”
CR7 Food Truck FC aims to build on its momentum and open more doors for young footballers in Mindanao. Lian A. Layson, Spamast Intern