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KIA Cup to raise funds for Philippine Homeless World Cup team
The Philippine team for the Homeless World Cup saw a boost to their chances of joining the tournament this year as the KIA Cup, organized by Green Archers Coach Hans-Peter Smit, will give all their entry fees from teams to the Philippine Homeless squad in order for them to reach Mexico later this year. On September 1 and 2, the return of the KIA Cup will see two days of action with the addition of a youth division to the competition. Held at the Ayala Alabang Country Club, the first day is reserved for the youth teams in a seven-per-side tournament, while the second day will see the adults male and female teams compete to win cash prizes in the competition. With several UFL teams and their academies joining, the competition will be fierce as it allows the chance for teams to compete against some of the best in the Philippines in each age division. Talking about the tournament, Coach Hans said that “this is a yearly event by Columbian AutoCars, makers of KIA with their commitment to the development of football. This year, since the Homeless World Cup are having problems raising funds, we decided what better way to assist [Coach] Rudy [del Rosario] and his team by making the KIA Cup a fund raiser for them? We will be donating all proceeds from the Entry Fee's to them!” By “we,” Coach Hans speaks of himself, Avellana and Associates’ Joey Avellana, the PFF and Azkals’ Dan Palami, the Ayala Alabang Country Club, Columbian Autocar President Gina Dominga, and marketing head Boying Soriano, as the ones organizing the tournament. Coach Hans, who is overseeing big change at the La Sallian-based Green Archers UFL side as the Technical Director, added that “The first year of the KIA Cup was only for the Open Divisions in the Men & Ladies but this year since we need to help the Homeless World Cup, we had to make it also for the youth. But then again I really wanted to open it up to as many divisions as we can to promote the sport even more!” With the competition aiming to promote youth development and grassroots football it will provide a platform for many teams to showcase their skills. The tournament follows the rise in grassroots football across the country with the sport continuing to grow in popularity. Available divisions: Youth Division September 1 (Saturday):
- 18-U: Boys born 1994 - 95 (16 teams)
- 17-U: Girls born 1995 - 96 (12 teams)
- 16-U: Boys born 1996 - 97 (16 teams)
- 15-U: Girls born 1997 - 98 (12 teams)
- 14-U: Boys born 1998 - 99 (16 teams)
- 12-U: Mixed born 2000 - 01
- 10-U: Mixed born 2002 - 03
- Men's Open (48 teams)
- Ladies Open (38 teams)
- Youth Division - Php 2,500.00
- Open Division - Php 3,500.00
