The Negros Occidental Regional Football Association (NORFA) stamped its reputation as one of the country’s leading hotbeds of grassroots football, sweeping the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Under-16 Championship Regional Qualifiers-Visayas Group D, concluding the group with a 3-0 win against Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA) on January 23 in San Carlos City.
Over at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao Sports Complex in Davao City, Golden Davao RFA (GODARFA) won the Mindanao-Group H Regional Qualifiers with seven points, edging Davao South RFA (DRFA) by a point for the lone slot to the National Championship.
NORFA sweeps Visayas
NORFA won all four qualifying games for 12 points and will be joined by runner-up Iloilo-Guimaras RFA (IGRFA), who amassed nine points, in the inaugural PFF U16 National Championship finals.
CRFA and Negros Oriental-Siquijor RFA (NOSIRFA) did not make the cut with four points each while Eastern Visayas RFA (EVRFA) could not secure a win.
“Team NORFA qualified for the national group stage because the players performed very well from the start of game one to the last game,” said NORFA head coach Roy Barcuma.
“Of course, [we were] well prepared for the tournament,” he continued.
Hometown rising star Jhon Luke Libunao was named Man of the Match in NORFA’s final qualifying game.
NORFA began their campaign with a 5-1 rout of EVRFA, and a decisive 3-1 win against regional archrival IGRFA set the tone for NORFA’s clean sheet wins against NOSIRFA (9-0) and CRFA (3-0).
IGRFA, meanwhile, had their only loss against NORFA while they did not concede goals in wins against NOSIRFA (7-0), CRFA (4-0).
Winning against EVRFA, 2-0, in their final game, Iloilo-Guimaras scored a goal in each half with Barotac Nuevo’s James Michael Consular (43′) and Nathan Howard Caligdong (’68) clinching the big ticket for their RFA.
“We are so happy at the same time very eager to secure the spot to the National U16 Championship and we look forward and prepare for the next level competing with other teams,” IGRFA coach Bervic Italia said.
GODARFA edges DRFA in Mindanao qualis
In Mindanao Group H action at the University of the Philippines–Mindanao Sports Complex, Golden Davao RFA (GODARFA) clinched qualification to the PFF Under-16 National Championship after topping the group with seven points, finishing a point ahead of host Davao South RFA (DRFA).
The decisive result came on January 20, when GODARFA edged DRFA, 2–1, in a tightly contested rivalry match. Nabunturan native Rynz Rasonabe was named Man of the Match, a performance that ultimately proved pivotal as it GODARFA remained to be a point ahead of DRFA at the close of the qualifiers.
GODARFA’s resilience was further tested on January 23 against Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA), where the teams settled for a 1–1 draw. The result highlighted the grit and quality of the Bukidnon youth side, with BUFA’s Eddieson Dangcal of Valencia City earning Man of the Match honors after helping his team take a point from the eventual group winners.
Qualification was emphatically sealed on January 24 as GODARFA routed Davao North Regional Football Association (DAVNOR), 5–0. Jhefril Escuadro of Maragusan starred in the dominant victory and was named Man of the Match, a result that formally cemented GODARFA’s entry into the National Championship.
Based in the province of Davao de Oro, formerly Compostela Valley, GODARFA credited the collective effort behind the team’s success. “This outstanding achievement reflects the players’ hard work, discipline, and passion for football,” the association said in a statement congratulating its U-16 Boys Team for emerging as group champions and qualifying for the national group stage.
“This victory gives hope to our young athletes as they pursue their dreams of becoming future Philippine National Team players,” GODARFA concluded.
The three RFAs–NORFA, IGRFA, and GODARFA–will join last December’s finalists National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) and Olongapo City–Zambales Football Association (OCZFA), who secured their places in the PFF U-16 National Championship as group winners of Luzon Groups A and B, respectively.
