The Achievements

Cavite Football Association, Inc. (CAFA) 2012 -2013 Season is again a banner season for the provincial football association (FA), in fact, CAFA is one of the busiest FA in the country today. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has been monitoring CAFA’s activities and currently, lots of communications has been shared between the two entities. PFF has invited CAFA in PFF managed tournaments and events including its grass roots programs. CAFA made an impact during PFF Smart Club Mens Championship when its members made an incredible run in the tournament. Flame United Cherifer FC, a CAFA founding member topped its South Central North Luzon Cluster before conquering the Luzon Regionals to qualify to the round of 16. General Trias International FC on the other hand made a Cinderella run at UFL cup and made it to the semi-finals and eventually entered the round of 8 at the PFF Smart Club Nationals. CAFA also sent 2 teams at PFF Regional Festival of Football, a grass roots activities under the kasibulan program. It was hosted by Tarlac Province. CAFA became a proud host of the first Women’s Futsal Cup. Thanks to UPHR-Molino for being the best host in an activity organized by PFF and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The hosting paved the way for an invitation by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) – PSC Philippine National Games Futsal Tournament where Team CAFA ended 1st Runner-Up to again mark a victorious day for the FA.

Despite of the hectic schedules due to commitments to PFF, POC-PSC organized events, CAFA was able to host and managed its institutionalized tournament for 2012-2013 Season. It has invited hundreds of teams to participate in its tournaments. The Tournament Management Team successfully organized the 2012 CAFA Youth Football League with the Chiefs earning a 3 peat in as many championships it won in the U17 Boy’s Football League. UPHR-Jonelta became the champion of the first 9-a-side Youth Football League B99 category. The tournament was held from October to December in UPHR – Molino Football Field. The 6th Soccer Fiesta was fruitfully staged in the later part of December where it attracted several teams from nearby provinces such as NCR, Batangas, Rizal, and Laguna. There were six categories where Wildcats FC topped the B99 age group while PCU, Army Victory FC, MMXIV FC, and Flame United were champions in B20013,B2001,B96, Girls Open and Mens Open respectively. As the new year 2013 passed, Bacoor United Soccer Squad (BUSS) lead by Coach Rene Comprendio collaborated with CAFA to launch the 1st Bacoor Soccer Show. The said soccer tournament is aimed to converge indigent kids who wants to play soccer and play with mainstream grass roots players. It was a very productive tournament where several players were selected to play for the PFF Regional Festival of Football in Tarlac. UPHR-Las Pinas, Marikina City United and Bacoor Soccer Squad where the Champions in U17 Boys, U13 Boys, U17 Girls, U11 Boys respectively. 7th CAFA Cup Culminated the whole 2012-2013 Season. On its 7th edition, CAFA Cup was able to invite teams all over the NCR and South Luzon. The competition became more challenging and fun to play. BUSS, CSA, ALTAS FC, PCU-D, and Athletico Diliman topped the B98, Girls Open, Men’s Open, B2000, and B1996, B2004, B2002 respectively. The CAFA Cup was again hosted by UPHR-Molino in the second week of March, 2013.

CAFA also collaborated with Intermead Marketing, owner of Cherifer Brand to stage the 4th Edition of Cherifer Cup NCR Leg and NL Leg. Both tournaments were participated by more than 90 to 100 teams all over Luzon. Cherifer has been very supportive to CAFA activities that they also contributed immensely to the success of CAFA in Smart Club Championships.

The Membership

Since 2006, Cavite Football Association had a modest growth. Of the dozen original founder, only six completed the requirements to be regular members in 2006 namely UPHR-Molino, PCU-D, Flame United, Amadeo FC, D’Cup, and SVDPC. Today, it has grown to eleven with Arellano University, General Trias International FC, General Trias FC, Academy of Saint John, Bacoor United Soccer Squad.

Currently, there are 2 active probationary members namely De La Salle Patriots United FC and Immaculate Conception Academy. Their regular membership will be reviewed soon.

There are about 10 Associate members who were with us for a long time. These associate members have contributed a lot in the advancement of CAFA Programs. The Associate members are as follows: IBA, Cheng Hua Athletic Association, DLSU-Lipa, UPHR – Las Pinas, Gli Calciatori, Lions Athletic Association, Roxas Foundation Wild Cats FC, Army Victory, Statefield, and School of St. Mark.

The Challenges

With the busiest season ever; invitation from PFF, PSC-POC, and other groups, plus all the football programs intended by CAFA to its members; the greatest challenge is on the financial side. CAFA hasn’t increased its tournament fees since its formative years but somehow, the management committee was able to come up with ways to cope up with the challenges. To cope up with the ever changing demands in the football landscape, Mancom will have to implement income generating scheme to satisfy its goals. Of the program is to look for sponsors to absorb cost in the associations’ day to day operational requirements. Other ways is to create more activities and tournaments to raise funds for CAFA. Thanks to some sponsors that CAFA was able to survive PFF Smart Club Men’s Championships, PFF Regional Festival of Football, and CAFA shouldered the expenses in the recent the POC-PCS Philippine National Games. The president would like to personally thank Coach Angie Servillon, Coach Ravelo Saluria, and Coach Gony Saluria for managing the funds well and checking the balance in place.

Milestones

For this year, CAFA is proud to partner with World Wild Life Foundation in its pro environment activities. CAFA is also the first PFF probationary member to top SL NL CL cluster and Luzon Regionals in the PFF Smart Mens Club National Championship. First Probationary member to enter to group of 16 and group 0f 8.

Aside from the institutionalized tournaments, CAFA was able to launch the 1st Bacoor Soccer Show which is aimed to connect both indigents and mainstream players. CAFA will also be launching the 1st Habagat Cup which will be the opening tournament for CAFA Season from this year and onwards.

Our facebook likers already passed 600 and our website visitors reaches as high as 100 a day. CAFA will be in twitter soon.

CAFA have several players already chosen in the U16 National Team.

The office of the CAFA President has issued memo that there will be a transporation allowance for every meeting a member attend. This will entice members to attend meetings and contribute to the development of CAFA programs. Such benefit is subject to fund availability.

What Lies Ahead

Our vision for 2013-2014 is to become a regular member of the Philippine Football Federation. PFF has already inquired and monitored our status. After this General Assembly, the office of the CAFA President will collaborate with the General Secretary to comply with their inquiries. So much challenge is ahead of us, but with us being united for the good of CAFA and CAVITE Football, there is no way but to achieve our Mission and Vision.

May 17, 2012 was when Securities and Exchange Commission released its Certificate of Incorporation to Cavite Football Association, Inc. (CAFA), after six years of challenges and successes, the organization has proven once again that nothing is impossible. Without so much financial support from benefactors, CAFA was able to survive each passing years and has added feathers after feathers on its cap. CAFA will always work outside the box for football to flourish in the Province of Cavite.

In its maiden season, CAFA’s objective is to build a grass roots base of football enthusiasts and out of that will produce players who can play for the national based leagues like UAAP, NCAA, NCAA South, SCUAA, Palarong Pambansa, and eventually for the National Team. CAFA had drawn up its course and made programs to meet the objective and comes 2012, CAFA is proud to say that it had met its objective with many of its players playing in NCAA and UAAP, UFL and was able to contribute four players, Three (3) in 2011 Under 19 Mens Team and One (1) in Girls Team. This 2012, several U19 players made it to the cut in NCR  National try-out. Same with its referees objective, aside from the livelihood it gives to the Game Officials, CAFA also help other leagues by sending its referees to help them in officiating. Continuous training is being conducted to further develop their officiating skills.

After Six Years of fruitful existence CAFA was able to achieve several highlights like institutionalization of three main tournaments such as CAFA Cup, Youth Football League, and Soccer Fiesta for Youth.  CAFA also was able to help its members organize their own Tournaments, Summer Camps, and Festivals.  Among the activities are UPHR-Molino Cup, SVDPC Cup, SVDPC Youth Camp, Cherifer Cup, Lion’s Cup, Gen. Trias Football Club Summer Clinic, PCU Summer Camp, and UPHR-Molino Summer Camp. CAFA is also helping its members create pool of players to prepare them in the nationally renowned United Football League (UFL). CAFA was able to penetrate the worldwideweb and made use of it in reaching out to its members and benefactors. CAFA was able to launch its official website www.cavitefootball.com and has created itself its own facebook account and fanpage and has achieved higher hit rate every day.

For six years, CAFA has been following-up with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) of its status of membership hoping to be elevated from probationary to a regular membership status. Last June, once again CAFA submitted its annual report to PFF with a much greater confidence of finally making it as CAFA is now SEC registered and is the only missing ingredient in its PFF regular membership. Constant follow-up will be done hoping that one day CAFA will get the nod of the Board Of Governors of PFF.

This month of July, 2012; CAFA joined hands with World Wildlife and Eco-Registry Foundation, Inc. (WWERFI) to help WWERFI push with their pro-environment program in the Province of Cavite. This would also be a great opportunity for CAFA to show everybody that football can also help save the world by crossing the green line and be an earth warrior. May this be a first among football associations in the Philippines or not, CAFA will always think of new ways to make football more valuable sports to be with.

To all the members, supporters, benefactors, players, and the executive team, greater challenge is always in front of CAFA, but with all of us helping one another hand in hand, nothing is impossible.

Finally, the 3rd CAFA Youth Football League ended successfully. It was in 2007 when the 1st edition was launched purposely to increase the awareness of the Caviteños and the people nearby about the sports and the association called Cavite Football Association  (CAFA). Today, teams from nearby provinces participate in every edition after the 1st edition. Significantly, the teams coming from within the province itself and the number of players increased drastically. The dramatic metamorphoses of CAFA have something to do with the support of each member teams and the tireless efforts of the founding triumvirate; Coaches Angie Servillon, Ravelo Saluria, and Segundo Saluria, Jr. They are the forces behind the scene, who with their unparalleled commitment to the sports has catapulted CAFA into its new heights.

To fully develop the sport in the province, CAFA Mancom planned for an annual program that will penetrate down to the grassroots level. CAFA Cup, Youth Football League, Women’s Football League, UPHR-Molino Cup, CAFA Festival, Futsal and beach Soccer, these tournaments are part of the pipeline to improve the skills of each and every player, coaches, and referees. Remarkable improvement have been observed, CAFA teams win invitational tournaments outside of Cavite, CAFA players recruited as guest players to other teams, and referees asked to officiate to tournaments from nearby provinces. These are quite an achievement for a relatively new association.

In sustaining the growth of Cavite Football, CAFA needs more help from every individual and the leadership of CAFA is very thankful to supporters who in their small and big ways have contributed to the success of the program. The challenge for now is its sustainability. While the youth and the community have benefited to the programs of CAFA tremendously, CAFA needs more support system. It is then appealed to every sports enthusiast to share their blessings to the organization in order for CAFA to serve more tournaments in Cavite. Corporate  Sponsors like Herbalife, Nokia, and RBR Law Firm have started the bandwagon hoping that more people and companies would help CAFA achieve its mission, vision, and goals.

In the spirit of football, CAFA will always be at the service of Cavite Youth. Someday, Cavite will produce players who will serve the national team, or even produce professional players playing in popular professional leagues... it will only happen if you and I will join hands to promote and develop football in Cavite... and lasty, lets create more Salurias and Servillons...for people like them creates the change in every youths life....

Being a player is a skill... and having a heart of a champion is a gift.  Let me share a personal experience which I hope would draw inspiration to all readers young and old, men  or women, in all walks of life. I wrote this blog in 2008 when I was inspired by my son Jojo; It all started because of his determination to come back from a career ending injury.  Please read my blog below:

THE HEART OF A CHAMPION....

Football will always be in my sons heart, its his way of life... His heart will always be. A little over 3 months ago, i though its over for my son... when while watching him playing the beloved game and to my horror, he broke both his tibia and fibula, and have to rush him to the hospital and watched him in agony and pain over his injury. The doctor took six painstaking hours just to screw his bones back to its proper position and begun the healing.

Even in the hospital, i saw my son with so much determination to be healthy again even in the midst of pain and uncertainty. We would usually go around the hospital in wheel chair just for him to breath and in two weeks time, i saw him walking around in crutches even in the middle of the night. I admire the mental strength of my son. I never saw my son backing down, losing hope... His heart is a heart of a champion. He never stopped praying that one day he would walk again, run again, and kick some foot ball again.

Two months have passed and he can already walk by himself with his crutches, he exercises his leg to avoid inactivity, he tried to shoot basketball in his room, and and make it sure that his mental toughness never weaken. And he just keep on going and going and going.

Three months had passed and we're back to the doctor, to our surprised... his healing was faster than expected, his x-rays shows his bones are fine and he just need some exercise to make his right foot active and strong again. His determination is unprecedented, he puts weights on his right foot every day, he walks, he moves, as if there is no tomorrow. This time I know I have a champion kid in my son.

Last Saturday, June 14, he had his first practice, I provided him ankle support covered with an ergonomically designed plastic, ankle wrap, and shin guard... I was so apprehensive but my son is really insistent on having his practice.

We arrive late at about 5pm on their 4:30 practice, i know his heart was pounding not because his afraid but because he is so excited to play again. My heart was pounding harder, months ago, I saw my son in agony and pain... and here we are, in his first practice, questions whether his  bones are strong enough  to face the rigors of practice or not keeps on hounding my very soul... but then, I cant question his determination to be back to his old  football buff self.

His coach, coach rav, saw him and was excited too. He let him jog and do some stretching before going to the actual scrimmage.... finally, he's at it again... he played as goal keeper... my heart was really pounding hard... then one strong kick from opposing side.... one big catch from my son.... only to realize...HE'S BACK! ah, i was so anxious the whole practice because he never did change... still the daredevil goalkeeper of the PCU Dolphins... my son never change a bit...i guess he's back. His coach was very surprise with the way he played, all those slides...kicks... dives...huh! i almost died of heart attack...

Finally the practice ended.... My sons coach was quite nervous too... he instructed my son that on the next practices... he would not use his right foot yet... I breath deeply...

Slowly but surely... he'll be back... and play... leave the pain behind... learn the lessons well... now i know... he's more matured in his game...

Going back.... never I realized he'll be at this point... but my son never lost hope... he knows that one day... he'll reach even farther....

He will never be here now......But here we are, football life, a life he chose to live... and its all because... HIS HEART IS HEART OF A CHAMPION... Thats  him, my son - JOJO....
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