The 1st Gov. Ramon V. Guico III Futsal Cup Across Our Friendly Borders kicked off at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) Basketball Gym on March 16.
Football Association: Pangasinan General Secretary, and Pangasinan Sports Development and Management Council (PSMDC) Head Leo C. Arnaiz led the formal opening of the two-day tournament featuring 13 teams from various football clubs and associations.
“Ang plano ng Presidente ng Pangasinan Football Association, Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, ay maging Number one tayo hindi lang sa Pangasinan kundi, sa buong Pilipinas,” Arnaiz said.
He encouraged players to dream big and thanked the Philippine Football Federation for their unwavering support.
‘Hangarin natin ang mas mataas. We are one family in the family of football. Let us do the right thing,he added.
Former football player and Head of the Tournament Roderick De Guzman described football as a game of people with discipline.
“Ang football ay nilalaro ng mga taong may tiyaga, ng mga taong kayang manalo na hindi nanakit.”
Sharing his nuggets of wisdom as a player himself, De Guzman said, “Ituloy natin ang ating pangarap at disiplina para magkaroon tayo ng maayos na karakter. Ituloy natin ang pagsisikap na aralin ang lahat-lahat na technical na bagay dahil dalawa ang importante sa football, you need to know your technical know-how and you need to develop your character.”
The football players will vie for the championship in five categories, namely: Boys 19U (player still has to be 19 years old on March 16/17), Boys U17 (born 2006), Girls U17 (born 2006), Boys U15 (born 2008), and Mixed U12 (born 2011).
Joining the competition were Binalonan Football Clubs, Sison Football Club, Pozorrubio United Football Association, Agoo Football Club, Lipit Football Club, Bahamanan Dica Football Club, Laoag City Football Club (Ilocos Norte Football Association), Central Luzon Region Football Association, Manaoag United Football Club, Dagupan City Bangus Football Club, North Central Luzon Football Club, Salaan Palua Football Club, and Mangaldan Football Club.
Trophies and medals await the winners. (Chona C. Bugayong, Orland Llemos, / PIMRO)
