SAN CARLOS CITY – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) successfully staged the inaugural Inter-Center of Development (COD) Football Tournament in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, marking a significant milestone in the country’s grassroots development pathway, with the National Capital Region Football Association-A (NCRFA-A) and Negros Occidental Regional Football Association (NORFA) with the under-15 boys and girls divisions, respectively.
Featuring a single round robin format followed by knockout rounds, the competition brought together emerging talents from across the nation in two divisions: Under-15 boys and Under-15 girls.
For PFF, the tournament represents a crucial step in strengthening its nationwide development structure. According to PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez:
Bringing our Centers of Development together in one competition allows us to see, in a very real sense, how far our grassroots programs have progressed across different regions. At this level, especially among players aged 15 and below, these matches are critical in identifying talent and building the foundation for stronger national teams and a more sustainable football program in the years ahead.
The tournament showcased the depth and promise of Filipino youth football, with four Regional Football Associations (RFA) teams competing in the boys’ division and six in the girls’ division. It also served as a key platform for talent identification and performance benchmarking under the PFF’s COD program, implemented in collaboration with the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS).
In the U15 boys’ division, National Capital Region Football Association A (NCRFA-A) emerged as champions after edging Iloilo-Guimaras Regional Football Association, 1-0, in a tightly contested final. Mathias Jeyan Papa delivered the decisive moment early in the ninth minute, sealing the gold medal for NCRFA-A.
NCRFA-A head coach Roxy Dorlas emphasized both the competitive and developmental value of the tournament.
“There were many talented players and a high level of competition throughout the tournament, which helps in the development of the players. All teams were also encouraged to give fair playing time so coaches could showcase the abilities of all their players. Every player contributed and fought from start to finish to achieve the result. I’m very proud of the team and grateful for the experience and opportunity to compete in this tournament,” Dorlas said.
Bacolod secured the bronze medal after prevailing 5-3 on penalties against host San Carlos City following a 1-1 draw in an intense inter-NORFA derby, while Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA) claimed the plate with a 5-4 shootout victory over Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA) after a goalless stalemate.
In the U15 girls’ division, NORFA delivered a commanding performance to win the gold medal, defeating CRFA, 4-1, in the final. NCRFA secured the bronze medal with a dominant 5-0 victory over BUFA.
NORFA President Miggy Valmayor highlighted the importance of expanding such initiatives.
“It was a good fight for both teams. And kudos to all the CODs who participated. It was the first for the women’s Inter-COD and I hope the program will continue and be adopted by as many RFAs as possible. This is, for me, the best way for the long-term youth development of the participants.”
PFF Head of Youth Development Tetsuya Tsuchida underscored the long-term vision of the initiative, noting that the tournament primarily targeted players born in 2011 and 2012 and serves as a key Talent Identification (TID) platform.
“As with other countries, we aim to identify and develop players not just for immediate competitions, but with a long-term perspective. It is also possible that some of these players will be considered for future U16 national team selection,” Tsuchida, also the head coach of the Philippine men’s national under-17 team, said, adding that the Inter-COD Tournament is planned as an annual event.
For President Gutierrez, CODs are an important venture “in building a generation of world-class homegrown football athletes.”
“As the COD program continues to expand nationwide, providing structured, elite training environments for players aged U12 to U16. the successful staging of the Inter-COD Tournament signals an invaluable investment in the future of Philippine football,” Gutierrez concluded.
