ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--As part of the month-long celebration of the Diyandi Festival here, more than 160 teams from various cities and provinces in Mindanao gathered to compete in the Kasadya sa Diyandi 7 A-Side Football Festival 2023.

Teams from various cities and provinces, including Tangub, Pagadian, Ozamis, Dapitan, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Gingoog, Butuan City, Malaybalay City, Valencia City, Zamboanga del Norte, Manolo Fortich, Cagayan de Oro, and Misamis Oriental, participated in the tournament in various categories.

Diversity and enthusiasm 

Emmanuel A. Judith, match commissioner of the tournament, emphasized the diversity of the participants for the first day of the game, which included categories for boys and girls aged below 10, below 14, and below 18 attractive over 100 teams.

Meanwhile, for the second day of the festival, more than 60 teams took to the field, competing in the men's open, ladies' open, and 40 above categories.

Speaking about the importance of football, especially for the youth, Judith urged the Iligan community to embrace the sport. He said football is not just a game but a means to instill discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness in the younger generation.

"Ako gihangyo ang kadaghanan labi na ang Iligan, ang football number sports sa world. Giawhag nako ang tanan nga Iliganon nga mu-participate sa event, labi na ang mga grassroots, sa mga bata, kay kini maayo jud para sa mga bata [I appeal to the majority, especially the people of Iligan, as football is a global sport. I encourage all Iliganons to participate in the event, especially the grassroots and the youth, because this is really beneficial for them]," he said.

Football's transformative impact

Several participants also shared their experiences and the positive impact of football on their lives.

Roxy Davin, a student at Iligan Medical Center College, emphasized how football has become a source of joy and physical well-being. Roxy, who has been playing for a year, expressed that before she started playing football, she had no leisure activity at home. However, when she received an invitation to join, she found joy in the sport. She highlighted that football improves communication skills and respect for other people.

Meanwhile, James Dinawanao of Football Club ‘95, who has been playing for 30 years, highlighted the physical and social benefits of the sport. He initially began playing football because of his friends, and over time, he developed a love for the sport.

"Naa'y things nga dili lang sa classroom nimo matun-an but sa outside, ang sports sa isa sa mga best avenue para ana [There are things that you cannot just learn in the classroom but outside of it, and sports is one of the best avenues for that]," he shared.

On the other hand, Kris Pandaan, a goalkeeper for Football Club ‘95 with 20 years of experience, stressed the importance of discipline and faith alongside sporting excellence.

"Sa mga bag-ong gatubo nga player, ang among message is, put inyong self not only for game or skills, God first og disiplina [To the newly budding players, our message is to put yourselves not only into the game or skills, but also prioritize God and discipline]," he said. 

The Diyandi Football Festival concluded with a thrilling set of results across various age categories. For the under-18 girls category, Mahayahay United FC was hailed as the champion.

For the under-14 boys category, Manticao Football Club were hailed as champions, followed by Pinutos Football Club, and St. Michael's College got second place. For the under-16 boys category, Pinutos Football Club got first place, while for the under-18 boys category, Nitivo Football Club were named the champions. For the under-12 boys category, Olles Football Club were named champions.

The men's open category champions were the Manticao Football Club, and the Iligan City Football Club bagged the championship for the ladies open category. Olloes Football Club got first place in the mixed 10 category, and Sindangan Football Club were the champions in the above 40 category.

The Football Festival not only showcased the exceptional football talent in Mindanao but also demonstrated the power of sports to bring communities together and nurture the physical and personal growth of its participants. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)