THE prestigious Luzon leg of one of the country’s longest-running football tournaments — AboitizLand Football Cup (AFC) — fires off anew on Oct. 13, aiming once again at further reinforcing the country’s grassroots football development.
Taking place at the Aboitiz Pitch at The Outlets in Lipa, Batangas, the AFC-Luzon is expecting to attract once again top teams from the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Quezon (CALABARZON) region in eight weeks of fun but competitive football action.
The Luzon leg took place for the first time in 2018 and was well received by stakeholders in the region, giving rise to the second staging which organizers are angling, and touting, to be even bigger than last year.
“We are happy to stage the AboitizLand Football Cup for the second straight year after a very successful staging last year,” said Eduardo Aboitiz, AboitizLand Commercial Business Unit Head, during the press conference for AFC Luzon on Thursday at the Ippo Yari restaurant at The Outlets.
The AboitizLand official went on to say that AFC Luzon is in line with its mission of promoting holistic development as well advancing business and communities they have presence in.
Just like last year, the 2019 AFC Luzon has multiple categories from Under-7 to Open tournaments.
To accommodate more teams, this year’s edition will have a seven-a-side format.
Along with the football festival, the AFC Luzon will also continue its thrust of promoting continued education for football practitioners.
This time it will focus on teaching physical education (PE) for teachers and local town referees.
AFC Luzon opens on Oct. 13 with the U-15 tournament and ends on Dec. 8 with the Mixed U-11.
The Aboitiz Football Cup started two decades ago in Cebu and has done its share in developing players who have gone on to make names for themselves in leagues in various levels, some of which are now part of the Philippine national men’s football team.
Organizers said registration for AFC Luzon is still ongoing.
For more information on the Aboitiz Football Cup, follow it on Facebook at AboitizLand Football Cup Official. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
