VIPS AND OFFICIALS DO THE CEREMONIAL KICKOFF OF THE LUZON CUP AT THE JOSE V. YAP SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL PARK IN SAN JOSE TARLAC. THEY ARE (left to right) CLFA GRASSROOTS OFFICER RODEL QUIAMBAO, CLFA GENERAL SECRETARY ED FLAMINIANO, CLFA PRESIDENT ALVIN YALUNG JR. , NOFA PRESIDENT RICKY YANSON JR., FORMER VICE GOVERNOR OF TARLAC PROVINCE KIT COJUANGCO, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF CLFA GLENN TROY CARITATIVO, PALARONG PAMBANSA TOURNAMENT MANAGER RUFINO ARELLANO, TARLAC CITY SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ARNOLD RODRIGUEZ, AND CONG. CHARLIE COJUANGCO FIRST DISTRICT OF TARLAC REPRESENTATIVE NINOY PALOMAR.
TARLAC City, Tarlac — The city of Tarlac in Tarlac, Central Luzon has welcomed the Luzon Cup 2019 with open arms.
This after mayor Cristy Angeles through their City Sports Development officer Arnold Rodriguez welcomed all the participants during the opening of the tournament Friday morning at the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Park in San Jose, Tarlac.
“On behalf of the City government of Tarlac we sincerely thank everyone, the Central Luzon Football Association (CLFA), the Negros Occidental Football Association under Ricky Yanson and all the teams from all over Luzon and the lone team from Mindanao, Bukidnon FA. We thank you for honouring us with this opportunity of hosting the Luzon Cup,’’ said mayor Angeles in a statement read by Rodriguez.
He added that the mayor congratulates NOFA and CLFA for their unwavering support for the promotion of football in the country especially in the grassroots level.
“The grassroots is a gold mine of future football talents. I encourage all the players to continue training and working hard to achieve your dreams. God has given you these talents and it is up to you to nurture and develop and to use it to achieve a bright future,” she said.
She also quoted former football player and George Halas, “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it,’’ to inspire the 16 participating teams.
She also assured the participants of the three day tournament that under her leadership the City of Tarlac will always continue to support the promotion of football in Tarlac City.
Central Luzon Football Association president Alvin Yalung on his part thanked NOFA president Ricky Yanson Jr. for bringing the Luzon Cup in Tarlac.
“Thanks to the man behind this momentous event. The man whose passion to develop young athletes that will someday represent our country in the field of football, the man who believes that someday pureblooded Filipinos will be playing in the World Cup, no other than Ricky Yanson Jr.,’’ he said.
He also thanked NOFA for the opportunity given to host the Luzon Cup. “We are privileged and honoured to be chosen as one of the recipient of NOFA’s generosity. We have prepared for this event and we hope everyone will enjoy.
I also hope that this will only be the start of many competitions not only in Tarlac but also in Luzon,’’ he said.
He also added that he hopes the Luzon Cup will ignite the spirit of sportsmanship in the entire Luzon through football and provide opportunities to athletes and coaches to showcase their talents and skills.
Tarlac City is a bustling city in Central Luzon with good roads and very ideal for hosting such a big event. It is near the Clark International Airport and has a sports venue, the Jose V Yap Sports and Recreational Park located at the neighbouring municipality San Jose just a few kilometres away from Tarlac City proper.
People of Tarlac call the sports complex TRP short for Tarlac Recreational Park. It hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 2010. The park is on a lovely location up on a hill.
It has a track oval, two lighted football fields, a carting race track, a pond for canoeing and a mini golf course. It is near the border of Zambales province.
The facilities are nice. The people are nice, the venue is at the center of Luzon Island. You also don’t have to go far to stay in a good hotel. There are many hotels at the center of Tarlac city.
NOFA under Ricky Yanson Jr., indeed has chosen a great place to hold the Luzon Cup. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
