Men’s open defending champion Hiroshi Football Club starts its title-defense in the 12th edition of the Cebu Interclub Football Cup, which will kickoff tomorrow at the football fields of the University of San Carlos Technological Center (USC-TC), Paref Springdale and San Roque.
The Hiroshi FC clinched the title over Waterfresh Queen City United (QCU), 4-3, via a penalty shootout last year.
Hiroshi FC founder Voltaire Montebon, who was named the most valuable player in the category last year, said he hopes the team will be back on a permanent basis this year.
Hiroshi FC debuted in the Thirsty Cup in 2004. The team ruled several tournaments, including being undefeated in futsal here in Cebu and finished 2nd runner up in the futsal national finals.
The team’s momentum was halted when it was banned by the Cebu Football Association for figuring in a brawl against CrazyHorse during a Thirsty Cup tournament.
The ban was supposed to last for three years but it was lifted after a year in 2006.
Despite the lifting of the ban, Hiroshi FC’s performance has never been the same with some of its players moving on to play with other teams. During that time, the team also encountered problems with its sponsors.
The team played on and off until 2008 but it was not as successful as it was before the ban, said Montebon.
After last year’s Cebu Interclub Football Cup, the team was not able to sustain its winning ways because of the lack of players. It only participated in small-sided games and not full 11-a-side tournaments.
Montebon hopes that this year will mark the permanent return of the Hiroshi FC, which used to be one of Cebu’s strong football teams.