THE country’s top grassroots program in seven-a-side football is out to do an encore this year to its successful maiden edition in 2019.
The best seven-a-side selection squads from Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, with the last team coming over from either Davao or Muntinlupa, will collide for the title in the 2nd AIA Vitality Kampeon Cup on Oct. 14 to 16 at the La Provincia Polo Field in Bacolod.
Kampeon Cup founder and former Philippine Azkals defender Anton del Rosario said they want to raise awareness of the sport and make a big difference.
“There’s a lot of talent outside of the city which gets overlooked and we want to provide the opportunity to those talents across the country and put them on the pedestal where everybody can see them at the top level,” Del Rosario said yesterday in the tourney’s launch at the Studio 300 in Pasig.
“That’s what the Kampeon Cup is all about, being able to provide the opportunity to those players to be able to showcase that hey there is a future for football in the country,” he added.
The inaugural AIA Vitality Kampeon Cup was held three years ago where teams from Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao clashed in Manila, with Cebu ruling the tilt.
“The AIA Vitality Kampeon Cup is a tournament that seeks to bring the best football players all over the country in a festival-type atmosphere where there are games for kids,” del Rosario said.
“A tournament for the youth, women’s, and men’s with the Kampeon Cup in between.”
Del Rosario is also eyeing to stage an international seven-a-side meet next year.
“The goal for the Kampeon Cup is to be an international tournament where teams from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and others come over to participate,” Del Rosario said. “Now, that will not only help the sport on a national level, but also foster better relations with our neighbors.”
The growth of the Kampeon Cup also elated AIA Philippines’ head of Health and Wellness Kats Cajucom.
“We are happy the league has continued to make strides in the local football scene by expanding its scope from Pampanga, Manila and Palawan all the way to Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod, giving even more Filipinos a chance to showcase their skills on a nationwide scale,” she said.
“We are excited for Kampeon’s kick off in Bacolod and look forward to helping Filipinos — young and old alike — live healthier, longer, better lives through our continued support of football.”
