Long-running Aboitiz Football Cup goes national with Batangas event

AFTER two decades of complementing and enhancing the football scene in the Visayas, particularly Cebu, AboitizLand has decided to bring its long-running football league to the national level, holding its inaugural Luzon edition beginning next month.
Happening at the Aboitiz Pitch at The Outlets in Lipa, Batangas, the Aboitiz Football Cup (AFC)-Luzon is expected to host more than 100 teams composed of approximately 3,000 players, coaching staff, technical team, partners, and spectators from all over the region.
There will be 15 categories to join in for those who want to parade their teams from Mixed-U7 to Men’s Open.
The Cup is being staged in partnership with Luzon-based sports marketing and management agency RSA1Group (RSA Una Group, Inc.), and will kick off on Oct. 13 at The Outlets at Lipa inside the Lima Estate located in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas.
Games will be held every Saturday and Sunday and will run until mid-December.
Incidentally, the AFC in Luzon will run simultaneously with the 20th season of the Visayas leg.
MISSION AND VISION
“We’ve been based in Cebu for the last 20 years as a real estate developer and I think three years ago we’ve decided to go national, hence, the decision as well to bring the Aboitiz Football Cup to the national scene. And we’re very excited about it,” said Dudes Aboitiz, AboitizLand Commercial Business Unit Head, during the press conference for AFC Luzon on Sept. 13 at The Outlets, speaking of the decision to expand the scope of the Cup.
“When we started the Cup it was a simple project. We did not envision it to last 20 years. However, it’s in line with our mission and vision to promote holistic development as well advancing business and communities and now that we are bringing it to Luzon we want to bring that mission and vision here,” the AboitizLand official added.
Mr. Aboitiz went on to say that they are very proud of the success that the Aboitiz Football Cup has had throughout the years, including 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, or the “Azkals.”
It is also hoped, the Aboitiz group said, that with the staging of AFC Luzon it further reinforces the country’s grassroots football development, as well as in promoting continued education for football practitioners such as coaches and referees in the province and the region.
Registration for the first AFC Luzon is ongoing until Sept. 20.
For more information about the AFC Luzon tournament, e-mail aboitizcup-luzon@rsa1group.com or contact 0917-6293599. For the latest news and updates, visit the Aboitiz Football Cup official Facebook page. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo