Cavite Football for June 2019

Hi there! Checked out our blog and I found dust and cobwebs all over the place. I haven't posted anything here since June 1 and I owe all of you photos and updates from Cavite Football Academy and Cavite Football Association.

First on the line, Cavite Football Association held the CAFA All-Girls 3rd Unity Cup at the Football Field of Philippine Christian University.

And the winners are:

Champion: Cavite Football United FC

1st Runner-Up: Flame Utd Cherifer FC

2nd Runner-Up: Congressional Integrated High School

3rd Runner-Up: Philippine Christian University

Best Striker - Rica Besonia

Best Goalkeeper - Joyce Muñez

Best Defender - Mari Lumbang

Best Coach - Greatchen “Gee” Espique

MVP - Luisa Las Pobres

Cavite Football Academy News

The U15 Academy players, having won the Philippine Football Federation Festival of Football Regionals last March, are days away from playing their first game in the PFF U15 Boys National Championship Kicks Off June 2019.    

It has been a full two-month summer of football for our U15 players, with opportunities playing in different cups and leagues. Part of their preparation and development is their team training, three times a week.

Official game will be on June 29, 2019. It will be against National Capital Region Football Association at 8 AM. Venue is at the Football Pitch of Vermosa Sports Hub, Imus City.

And in the younger age groups, U13 and U11, our players have been very active playing this summer. They have had the busiest schedule, I think, in the Academy. All's worth it as they continue to bring in pride and fame for Cavite Football.

And here are the photos from the group, courtesy of Dandy Cervantes:

We wish all our Academy players all the best! 

As a (CFA) Football Player and a Parent (Part 2)

Let me continue where we left off.

From the scholastic football games, we now move into the club games.

Football Clubs and Academies 

Club games and practices are usually on a weekend. Usually. But not always.

When there is school, club meetings are limited to once a week to give way to academic activities and other matters like football. Yes, like football.

Come Summer time, it could be dizzying or tiring for the unprepared.

Since football clubs are literally everywhere, from Aparri to Jolo and in between the three major islands of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have got what we call the best football programs with Visayas boasting of Barotac as the country's football capital.

So yes, as a player of Cavite Football Academy, one joins the weekly training at the football field of Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas. Every Saturday, from 8 AM to 12 NN, rain or shine (sometimes earthquakes and flooding), they play with their buddies.

                                                     
                                                 Video Courtesy of Mr Edric Luna

With several clubs forming different teams for each age groups: Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17, a player is never to run out of teams and tournaments to play. For each team, there are tournaments for every reason and season.

It is surprising to find out the organizations you encounter for each tournament. There are Regional Organizations like Luzon Football Association, Cavite Football Association, North Eastern Luzon Football Association, Laguna Football Association and many more.

AFC Grassroots Day Celebration at Carmona, Cavite. 05.15.2019

Football Moms at the AFC Grassroots Day Celebration

In the club level, you have Kaya Football Club, Green Archers United, Ceres-Negros Football Club, Atletico-Diliman Football Club, Alab Football Club, JPV- Marikina Football Club, Imus United Football Club, Stallions-Laguna Football Club and yes... and many more.

Isn't it amazing? Football is very much alive in our country. And that's one of the reasons why our youth players, if left unguided, might get lost or burn out with all the tournaments and training they take part of.

For CFA Players

They have played in various tournaments like:

• CAFA Cup
• Xavier Cup
• Philippine Football Federation's (PPF) Festival of Football (FoF)
• PFF's U15 National Championships
• San Lazaro Cup
• Youth Football League
• Gilligan's Cup
• And many more

Football parents have learned to work around the schedule and pressure of watching and sending their kids to football games. Some parents have the old-school approach to the extent of taking the coach stance during games. Some parents choose to act like normal member of the audience: claps-shouts-use-phone-repeat-cycle.

After six years of watching football games, I haven't understood this one football rule: The Offside Rule.

AFC Grassroots Day Celebration 2019

And after years of bringing them to football games, me and my wife have met people who have become regular weekend companions. Slowly, we have become certified football parent: burnt skin, husky voices, achy feet and thrilled to be with our kids (di ba?).

Expenses

Fortunate we are for we are part of Cavite Football Academy, a sports program under the Provincial Government of the Province of Cavite. CFA provides our kids the following support:

• Coaching and training are all free of charge

• Pick-up points, transportation to and from training and game venues

• Football kits (light and dark)

• Food during practice and games

• Five kilo of rice every two weeks

Imagine that?

In which area do we really spend money one?

Boots and more boots. For teenagers like mine, game day allowance is a must. Socks, shin guards too. Gas for car and food for everyone joining in the fun because you cannot spell fund without fun.

And that's what life is like for most of us football parents.

Thank you for taking time off to read.