MindanaoToday.com | Local lady booters impress FFF Monocle Group exec
By: Jack Biantan
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – No less than the executive of tournament sponsor Monocle Group and Friends of Female Footballers (FFF), Eric Benitez witnessed how good our local lady footballers when he attended the 1st FFF Girl Power Futsal Cup held last Jan. 28 at the Bulua gym.
“They are awesome,” said the Filipino-American owner of Monocle Group, a real estate investment company based in New Jersey USA. He added that he was impressed by the skills of the girls, “Their dribbling skills, their passing, their shooting are good,” he added.
He also said that if we pick the top five girls in the tournament, and let them compete in the US, they can give the Americans a tough competition.
Eric has been involved with girls football since his two daughters are players. His eldest has stopped playing the beautiful game but his youngest daughter Julia still plays. She was one of the youngest player in the Philippine Women’s U20 tournament which competed in the Asian U20 elimination tournament last year in Laos.
Julia is also active in the Friends of Female Footballers (FFF) and she helps raise money and collect shoes, jerseys, socks to be sent to very poor football playing female players around the globe.
Among their beneficiary in the Philippines is the Lumbia Raptors Football Club Girls team here in Cagayan de Oro City whom the charity has sent football equipment and money to buy uniforms.
Eric brought with him a ‘balikbayan’ box full of jerseys and soccer shoes for the Lumbia girls when he came to watch and observe the 1st FFF Girl Power Futsal tournament. He was among local and government officials who kicked the ceremonial balls during the opening ceremony.
Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Kenneth Sacala, Camiguin Misamis Oriental Football Association (CMORFA) General Secretary Dhon Lazo, CMORFA official Jake Lopez, and Bulua Strikers coach Jun Actub were also part of the guests of honor who did the ceremonial kickoff.
Higala FC topped the Women’s Open, Lumbia Raptors FC the Girls 18, and the Youngsters FC of Gingoog City the Girls 14 category. All winners in the age group category received trophies, and medals while top players go commemorative cups. Winners in the Women’s division got cash prizes, trophies and medals plus commemorative cups for the special awardees.
Aside from FFF and Monocle Group the tournament was also sponsored by Cagayan de City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’, Carmen chairman Kikang Uy, Cagayan de Or SK chairman Kenneth Sacala, Cagayan de Oro councilor Yvy Emano, Rep. Lordan Suan, Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez, Rev. Fr. Jun Paradiang of Our Lourdes Parish Church, Cebu City and Mike Batiles of CMORFA. (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)
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