TO HOST GROUP F OF PFF BOYS U19 ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT ON JUNE 18-22
CAGAYAN de Oro City– The Iligan Lanao Regional Football Association (ILRFA) has accepted the challenge to host Group F of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Boys U19 2022 Regional elimination tournament on June 18-22 at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
According to ILRFA president Percy Olandesca, they have to thank Lanao del Norte governor Angging Gibranza Dimaporo for allowing them to use the Mindanao Civic Center (MCC). Another challenge came as MCC was used as quarantine facility for COVID patients during the pandemic last year.
He added that they accepted the challenge to host the tournament and did not waste anytime to ask permission from Lanao del Norte Governor Angging Gibranza Dimaporo for allowing them to use the sprawling Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) after Ozamis City RFA and Pagadian of Zamboanga del Sur-Sibugay RFA begged off. “The PFF wanted Ozamis City to host the elimination but the local FA begged off. Then they asked Pagadian City of the Zamboanga del Sur-Sibugay RFA. They too begged citing their pitch is not ready.” Olandesca said.
He added that he accepted the challenge for ILRA and did not waste anytime and asked permission from the Lanao del Norte LGU for the use of the MCC. However, another challenge came as MCC was used to quarantine COVID patients during the pandemic last year.
The problem was solved when the Lanao del Norte LGU through the efforts of Governor Dimaporo and tournament commissioner Peter Laurence Legaspi disinfected and prepared the venue for the hosting. MCC is now ready to host a competition of national in scope after many years. MCC was the venue of the Palarong Pambansa in 1996 when Lanao del Norte hosted the annual sports extravaganza.
Team coach Amor Tapion, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Class B coach, said that his players are ready to face their opponents from the different regional football associations. “The boys are hungry for success. They play hard and want to win,” he said.
ILRFA will face players from Zamboanga Basilan Tawi-Tawi RFA, Pagadian Zamboanga del Sur Sibugay Regioanl FA, and Misamis Occidental Ozamis RFA.
Tapion added that his players were selected from football clubs and schools from Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City. He also thanked the ILRFA officials led by president Olandesca for the all out support they have given for the team.
Tapion also announced the full line-up of the team. They are, 1) Jaybee Abasolo, 2) Jhinno Ali 3) Rome Vaughin Bargamento, 4) Shayne Milhaud Bargamento, 5) Rafael Onelle Catalan, 6) Jeyy Ivan Chavez 7) Aleksey Gabriel Cuares, 8) Alexi Laurence Filosopo 9) Carlos Leonard Glodove 10) Art Rey Isola 11) Jose Lorenzo Lara 12) Ihragel Nayawan 13) Dean Nicolle Lonoy 14) Jeffats Macabato 15) Angelio Montecino 16) Ashraf Musa 17) Michael Hinao 18) Adrienne Joshua Quidlat 19) Naethan Leonard Rubio 20) James Andrew Sibla 21) Allan Gaspar 22) Sean Maurice Tam 23) July Vicente 24) Cesar John Vicera Head Coach: Amor Jun Tapion (Head Coach); Monico del Cruz (Assistant Coach); Peter Legaspi (Sub-Assistant Coach); Jimson Malolot, Carlo Navales (Medical Staff); Ace Masilang (Manager); Percy Olandesca (ILFA President); Consur Manreza (Consultant). (jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
