LINGAYEN—Move over basketball! Football is here to stay and earn a lot of glory days as well.

This prospect may come to fruition sooner than some think because Pangasinan already hosted the first 1st Governor Amado T. Espino (GATE) Jr. 11-A-Side Football Cup, the signal that the provincial government will actively promote and develop the sport.

Last November 22-33, 2014, 16 teams from Pangasinan and other neighboring provinces battled for supremacy in the first football cup in the province.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said football was his favorite sport, and Filipinos can excel well in football more than other sports events where height dominates.

“Small people are fast runners and football players are always running in much of the game,” he said during the event’s opening program.

He vowed to support the development of football in the province, with the same attention and resources that chess and other sports, enjoy by hosting and organizing more football contests.
Football will be the new addition to the sporting events that will be held regularly in the province for sports development program of the Espino administration.

These teams who played in the 1st GATE Cup were Footballtese United of Candon, Ilocos Sur; Baguio United Football Club of Baguio City; Baguio City CARAA team; Nueva Vizcaya Football Club; PSU Football Club Alumni; PSU Football Club Varsity; Amadeo Football Club, Pangasinan; Nigerian United Football Club, Pangasinan; Urdaneta City Football Club, Pangasinan; Tuguegarao Football Club; Bayambang National High School Football Club; Nueva Ecija Football Club; North Western University Football Club of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; San Carlos City Football Club (international students), Pangasinan; Gaza Team, Dagupan City; Pangapisan North, Lingayen team.

Games were held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center and Pangasinan State University (PSU), Lingayen open fields.

The football event was organized by the provincial government in cooperation with -Lingayen Bagoong Jaycees.

JCI-LB President Judy Vargas said they coordinated with the provincial government to promote football in the province after their organization’s “small football competition” last summer has gathered overwhelming participants.

“We want to further let people know about football and that there is something to love about football,” she remarked. (Johanne Macob/ PIO)

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