As rain poured yesterday, so did the sanctions.
This after the Cebu Football Association (CFA) disqualified a team after finding out that it violated an important tournament rule.
The AP Football Club was disqualified by CFA officials after the latter discovered one of its players was overage while competing in the quarterfinals against Phoenix FC in the quarterfinals of the under-13 division at the San Roque football field.
According to CFA grassroots development program chairman Raffy Musni, they are still looking for more stringent sanctions against the team.
Musni automatically disqualified AP-FC after one of its player admitted that he was 14 years old. “At least one of their players admitted,” Musni said. “We will be suspending the team and the coach in future tournaments sanctioned by the CFA.”
Musni also warned other teams that the CFA will look deeper into this issue. “We will crack down on other teams who are possible violators of our rules and regulation.”
Phoenix FC officials went to the tournament officials’ table to serve the complaint against AP-FC with both teams tied at 1-1.
According to Musni, he will be suspending the team’s head coach Joe Limbaga, who was not present during the incident. Musni said they already informed all participating coaches and teams during the coaches’ meeting a week ago regarding the rules and regulations of CFA-sanctioned tournaments, including the ongoing Sinulog Football Festival.
Incidentally, during last Friday’s launching of the football festival, CFA officials announced they will be implementing not just FIFA standard rules but also important league rules and regulations in all tournaments they will be holding this year.
Meanwhile, the vaunted Greywolves booters of the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) captured the titles in the boys’ under-18 and under-7 divisions.
DBTC’s Team A in the under-18 division defeated arch rival Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), 2-0, in the finals. DBTC’s under-7 team also staged an upset over top seed MAD FC, 3-2, in their championship showdown.
SHS-AdC’s girls’ squad dominated the under-15 division by nipping Maria Montessori International School, 1-0.
Games continue today in two separate venues—the San Roque football field and the Aboitiz Sports Field. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL