3 Azkals players to see action in 2nd BRO National Football tomorrow

CEBUANOS will once again get a chance to see members of the Philippine Azkals in action after Nestorio Margarse, Ian Araneta and Roel Gener confirmed their participation in the 2nd BRO Nationals Football Festival which will kick off tomorrow at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The three will be playing in the Men’s Open on Sunday either under the BRO Nationals or ERCO team.

This year’s BRO festival will be held in cooperation with the Chieffy Caligdong Football Para sa Bayan.

Caligdong, the Philippine Azkals team captain, will grace the opening ceremonies tomorrow but is unsure of being here on Sunday for the closing.

Caligdong said that he is lending his name to the tournament to encourage kids from the provinces.

“We all know that most of the players with potentials come from the provinces. Andito ako para they will look up kung paano ko narating kung ano ako ngayon,” Caligdong said.

Working with Caligdong has also brought new sponsors for the event such as Globe, Molten, the official ball of the tournament, and Gatorade, all endorsed by the Azkals team captain.

“Gusto ko rin makita ng mga bata na kaya rin nila mag-endorso ng ganito kalaking products,” Caligdong added.

In turn, BRO Nationals will also support Globe’s TEN MOVES, an advocacy of building 10,000 classrooms every year for public schools, by selling Caligdong jerseys for P380.

CHANGE OF FORMAT

The festival will also be adapting the 9-a-side and 11-a-side format instead of the 7-a-side, also upon the suggestion of Caligdong.

Keith Buyco, one of the organizers, said that they have decided to follow the suggestion of Caligdong because they have also observed that kids have a hard time transitioning from the 7-a-side to 11-a-side.

“That is why for this year, we are only expecting a lesser number of teams,” Buyco said.

Last year, the event gathered about 200 teams while as of the press conference yesterday at the Casino Espanol de Cebu, some 174 teams have signed up.

Buyco said that the total number of teams will be known after the deadline of submission of entries which was last night. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON