A FUN-FILLED opening ceremony with no less than the Philippine Azkals as special guests will usher in the 15th Aboitiz Football Cup this afternoon at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
The country’s national football team is supposed to be still on a training camp but team manager Dan Palami agreed to come early to grace the Aboitiz Cup opening.
Azkal members expected today are Marvin and Marwin Angeles, Ian Araneta, Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong, Joshua Beloya, Jason Abbott Sabio, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason de Jong, Crisanto Gonzales, Christopher Robert Greatwich, Roel Gener, Nestorio Margarse Jr., Misagh Bahadoran, Carlos de Murga, Eduard Sacapano, Paolo Pascual, Denis Wolf, Patrick Reichelt, Matthew Christop-her Uy, Demitrius Irving Omphroy, James and Phil Younghusband, Juan Luis Guirado and Mario Rafael Garcia.
Accompanying the team are head coach Hans Michael Weiss and Palami.
Among the fun games are juggling contest, x marks the spot (an accuracy contest), longest boot, longest throw-in/target, slalom race, longest goal and head-to-head vollyball.
The winners will be getting a ticket to the Nov. 15 international friendly match between the Philippine Azkals and the Singapore Lions at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Tournament director Glenn Quisido said that 100 tickets will be given away as prizes. Spectators are also welcome to take part in the fun games.
This festival-type opening ceremony is the CFA’s first step in presenting a new image for Cebu’s biggest and longest running 11-a-side tournament.
As part of the CFA’s plans to bring back the prestige of the tournament, the board decided to veer away from the traditional opening ceremonies by holding the fun games, which replace the exhibition matches usually held on the tournament’s opening day. “That way, everybody goes home happy,” said the CFA.
Completing this afternoon’s fiesta are various booths of food, drinks and photos, among others./CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON