HIS REMAINS ARE LAID AT THE ROLLING HILLS FUNERAL HOMES IN MANDAUE CITY.
DURING the late 80’s an executive of the Aboitiz Insurance Company in Cebu was running the Cebu Football Association (CFA).
His name, Mario Abotiz Ugarte. He was selfless and dedicated to make the beautiful game a success in the Queen City of the South.
Football right now is very popular in Cebu City and coach Mario is credited for planting the seeds of the sport in Cebu. He worked so hard and spent his own money just to organise tournaments when sponsorships was hard and when the Cebu football community was still growing.
Aside from a long time president of the CFA he was also an unpaid official coach of the University of San Jose-Recoletos Kicking Jaguars where he would regularly attend their trainings at the USJ-R field in Basak, Cebu City. He did that for decades. He was coach, mentor, father and sponsor of the team for many years.
I was a young man when I worked for him as one of the General Secretaries of the Cebu Football Association. As coach of Don Bosco Boys Home in Banilad Cebu City, I was not contented to being a coach only. I wanted to help Cebu football and became the General Secretary in charge of the age group divisions.
His assistant coach Joselito ‘Babot’ Bono was the General Secretary in charge of the Open Divisions.
When we needed money for Cebu age group teams, to compete in various national competitions like the Coke Go-For-Goal, Adidas Cup, Milo Cup and many other tournaments, he was always ready to shell out some money just to make our trip possible. He would even give me money for my personal needs. He was like my father my mentor and an angel.
But the Cebu football community during the 80’s and the 90’s would always remember how coach Mario Ugarte manage to convince sponsors to shell out money for many 11-aside tournaments.
His legacy however that everyone should remember is the Aboitiz Cup. Now known as the country’s oldest and biggest 11-Aside competition.
Ugarte before the Aboitiz Cup, organised many 11-Aside competitions in Cebu City namely, the M. Lhuillier Cup, Phoenix Assurance Cup, and RCL Cup. And all these tournaments had no entrance fees. Teams just get listed, submit their players credentials and then play.
Winners would get trophies and sometimes shirts from sponsors. These competitions mostly I was involved as the organiser of the age group categories.
During the time of Koko Holganza as the Cebu City Sports Commission head, the Ugarte and the CFA even organised the Mayor’s Cup held at the lighted Cebu City Sports Center.
Then in 1997 Ugarte convinced his younger relatives in the Aboitiz Group of Companies to hold and sponsor the Aboitiz Foundation Cup. It was then renamed simply as Aboitiz Cup. The Aboitiz Cup has now existed for more than 20 years and now has even expanded to Luzon.
Without Ugarte planting the seeds of the beautiful game in Cebu, football would not be where it is now. He passed away at age 93 last Nov. 15 at his home in Cebu City. His remains are laid at the Cebu Rolling Hills funeral homes in Mandaue city. His interment will be announced soon.
Coach Mario Ugarte owes the Cebu football community so much he deserves a memorial. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
