 | |
| Formation | December 18, 1961 (as Cebu FA) 2016 (as Central Visayas FA) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Rosendo Hernaez |
| Type | Football association |
| Headquarters | Cebu City |
Region | Bohol andCebu |
| Rodney Orale[1] | |
Parent organization | Philippine Football Federation |
TheCentral Visayas Football Association is aFilipinofootball association. It works under thePhilippine Football Federation as a regional football association for the provinces ofBohol andCebu. It was formed in 2016 when Cebu FA absorbed Bohol FA to form the regional football association.
Not after the 1940s, football was introduced in Cebu by foreigners who were mostly clergy, expatriates, and officers and crewmembers from visiting ships. No major league was organized but competitions during weekends or as part of school celebrations were organized. Matches were also organized when foreign ships dock, where the visiting team often composes of officers and crewmembers of the ship.[2]
Before the formation of the Cebu Football Association, former congressman and businessmanWilliam Chiongbian was instrumental to the development of football in Cebu. Chongbian, who played football during college formed theWilliam Lines Football Team. The football team initially played matches within Cebu against local collegiate teams, seminarians, and visiting teams and later played outside Cebu such as inDumaguete,Bacolod andIloilo which are considered as football strongholds in the country. Chongbian also encouraged the formation of other football teams such as the Casino Español, Hap Hing Hardware and United Hardware.[2]
The William Lines team eventually went to Manila to take part in competitions in the capital. However, due to issues in his shipping business forces Chongbian to disband the team.[2]
Rosendo Hernaez, a football player and engineer organized the Cebu Football Association on December 18, 1961. Hernaez was elected as the association's first president. The composition of the first Board of Directors were Gregorio Sodusta, Vice-president, Valentino Darunday, SVD, Treasurer, and Joaquin M. de Ubago SR, Secretary.[2]
In January 2016, it was reported that the Cebu FA will be dissolved in line with the new regulations on football associations by thePhilippine Football Federation and is to be absorbed into a regional football association.[3] By mid-2016, Cebu FA was renamed as the Central Visayas Regional Football Association and absorbed PFF probationary member Bohol F.A. Despite the regional association's name,Siquijorwhich is part of theCentral Visayas administrative region is outside the organization's scope and formed a separate regional association with Negros Oriental.[4]
The CVFA is partnered with the Aboitiz Group of Companies and helps the company organize theAboitiz Cup.[1] The federation is also partnered with theCebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) collegiate league.[5]
