Professional Football in Cataduanes

Footballs origins in the Island are two fold, initially the game was introduced by Spanish sailors and soldiers during the colonial days around 1919. In 1924 the colonial governor established the Liga Locál, which consisted of four clubs

San Martin - the club of the colonial bureaucracy. Club de Marina - the club of the naval garrison. Hercules - the club of the Army garrison Minas de Samal - the club of the Mines in Samal province.

This small league would play up until 1936 when social upheaval and independence led to its winding up and replacement in 1940 by the Liga Nacional. The two of four pioneering clubs of the Liga Locál survived the upheavals and became founding members of the Liga Nacional, San Martin (renamed in 1937 as Club Union) and Minas Samal.

Clubs
The Liga is split into two tiers, the Liga 1 contains 16 teams while Liga 2 contains 10 teams.

1: Club Union (2) Oldest club in Cataduanes, originally formed as San Martin, originally based in the docks area but moved to the Alcantara district. 2: Ardar The major club of Subano city on the northern coast, named after the native muslim prince who mounted a fierce resistance to the Spanish. 3: Minas (de Samal) (1) The second oldest club in the country and the largest club in the eastern provinces. It has developed into the strongest club in the land, strong history throughout the 70’s and together with At. Basuanga dominated the 80’s. 4: Alcantara (3) Rivals and neighbours of La Union, was dominant in the throughout the 60’s and 70’s in particular 8 sucessvie league titles from 1960-68, with a successive league titles in the early 90’s run of titles. Based in the Alcantara district in the north of the capital. 5: Villa Merida Largest team from Merida province, noted for cup triumphs in the 40’s, has since been a yo yo side. 6: San Fermin Side from the town of San Fermin in the Coron Norte province, has recently established itself in the top flight and is noted for strong local support, rivalry with Atletico Coron Norte. 7: Deportivo Corto Sole team from the port of Corto, rivals of La Republica 8: Sakhayos third of the many teams of the Capital, only trophy is the cup in 1958. 9: San Teodoro Sole professional side from the island of El Nido. 10: Deportivo Romblon Sole team from the island of Romblon. 11: Atletico Malapatan Team from Samal province, rivals of Minas. 12: Nacional 4th of the capital teams, noted for a passionate following among the docks areas of the capital, was formed in the 30’s after La Union’s move to the northern part of the city. Notable cup victories in the mid 70’s and a league titles in 1948 & 1982. It considers La Union its main rival however this is not necessarily reciprocated by the La Union fans; they do have an intense rivalry with Internacional. 13:Guardia Bitora second team from Merida province, league champions in 1947. 14: Club de Salamiyo From the southern coastal town of Mauriya, has in recent times developed a rivalry with Playa los lobos. 15: San Vicente Another side from Coron Norte, noted for its stadium by the San Vicente Volcano. Strong rivalry with local side Maraca. 16: Nuevo Cartegena Team of the city north of the capital, strong rivalry with Alcantara. 17: Seishal second side from Basuanga province, rivals of Atletico Basuanga. 18: Playa los lobos From the southern town of Rio Sangre. 19:La Republica 5th of the capital teams, based in the south of the city with a large following despite a lack of accolades. 20: Maraca From the town of San Vicente, rivals of San Vicente club. 21: Villa Arambaru Third team from the Merida province. 22:Atletico Basuanga Largest team from Basuanga province. Noted for 4 league wins in the 80’s. 23: Estrellas Rojo Team from the town of Masca in Coron Sur province, originally named Club Rio Negro it was renamed when the club was bought up by the local brewery, which happened to be the largest and richest brewery in Cataduanes, Estrellas Rojo or Red Star. Since then the club have had a new stadium built and have stormed up from the lower leagues, the brewery has also invested in the biggest and best funded youth academy on the islands. 24:Internacional 6th of the capital teams, founded in the 40’s by foreign residents, it is the smallest of the capital clubs, it is also based in docks area and as a result has a intense rivalry with Nacional. 25: Atletico Coron Norte Rivals of San Fermin. Based in Cuidad Coron – 10 km from San Fermin, league champions in 1981 26:Euskadi 7th club in the Capital, founded in 1949 by Basque refugees in has spent all of its history in Liga 2. The still remains the focus of the small Basque community of Cataduanes.

International Football
Cataduanes is a member of CNFIFA but failed to enter the first CN World Cup, however the Sunny Island has now signed up for WC 2.