THE ABOITIZ Football Cup (AFC), the longest-running grassroots football tournament in the Philippines, will be holding its festival leg in Davao City from Oct. 26 to 27 at Tionko Football Field.
AFC Davao festival will be hosted by Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) and its water business unit Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (Apo Agua), in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), RSA 1 Sports Group, and the Davao-South Regional Football Association (DSFRA), with the support of Davao-based AboitizPower subsidiaries Davao Light and Power Corporation, Therma South, Inc., and Hedcor.
In a statement, Shake Tuason, Apo Agua head of operations, said bringing in the tournament in Davao City could further bring the group’s legacy of sports development and community building.
“Davao has always been a special place for the Aboitiz Group, from decades of operations of Davao Light to the establishment of the Cleanergy Park, to the operations of Apo Agua at the start of this year. We love connecting with our community and are excited to finally bring the Aboitiz Football Cup here. The AFC has always been about more than just football, it’s about bringing people together, nurturing young talent, and having fun while doing it. We can’t wait to see the energy and passion Davaoeños will bring to our beloved tradition,” Tuason said.
The annual AFC promotes grassroots sports development and community engagement, particularly with the youth.
With roots in Cebu and an established leg at the Aboitiz Pitch in Batangas, this year, the AFC expands its reach to involve the nationwide football community with the latest leg in Davao. As part of this expansion, two select winning teams from the Davao festival leg will compete against teams from Luzon and Visayas in a culminating exhibition game in Cebu in February 2025.
Ernesto Ortonio, Jr., DSFRA president, said the tournament could be a platform “to provide young players to showcase their skills and build crucial life skills such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, and lasting friendship.”
This season also introduces the Wasteless Campaign, which integrates CCBPI’s “Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!” program that promotes environmental stewardship and responsible waste management practices.
“AFC Davao festival participants are encouraged to collect and recycle post-consumer clear PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles at the designated drop-off sites at the festival venue, in exchange for Coca-Cola products,” the statement reads.
The AFC expansion to Davao builds on the tournament’s legacy of grassroots sports and community development, reflecting the city’s dynamic growth, vibrant population, and diversity, as well as bringing in young athletes, families, and sports enthusiasts to nurture local talent, promote healthy lifestyles, and strengthen the community bonds in Davao City.
