How a grassroots club in Bacolod turned sacrifice and unity into a legacy of champions.
In Bacolod City, where the streets echo with the laughter of children and the rhythm of everyday life, a football dream quietly took root in 2017. It didn’t begin with investors or corporate banners. It began with a single vision: to give school kid —many of whom had no team, no equipment, and no stage—the chance to play the world’s most beautiful game.
That vision became the Bacolod United Football Club (BUFC).
Built on Sacrifice, Not Sponsorship
The story of BUFC is not one of privilege. Founded by Rene Dofitas, the club was built on sheer passion and sacrifice. The name “Bacolod United,” once carried by Rene’s senior club, now stands as a banner of resilience and togetherness.
In its earliest days, BUFC asked for nothing from its players. Training was free. Uniforms, balls, tournament fees, even jeepney fares—everything was shouldered by the club. For children who had never touched a real kit or played in an organized match, BUFC was more than a team. It was an open door.
Coaching with Heart and Discipline
The heartbeat of BUFC is Coach Joshua S. Fegidero, a licensed professional teacher, AFC B License coach, and FIFA MA Goalkeeper coach. Every afternoon at 3:00 PM, from Monday to Saturday, the pitch becomes their classroom.
It isn’t just about winning games—it’s about shaping lives. Specialized goalkeeper training, school outreach, and six days of sweat and learning from a program where every child, no matter their background, has a place.
Competing with Pride
What started as simple drills on borrowed fields soon blossomed into a competitive force. BUFC’s young warriors have carried their colors across the nation, proudly representing Bacolod in:
- Thirsty Cup (Cebu)
- Dolphins Cup (Bacolod)
- Pintaflores Tournament (San Carlos)
- Masskara Cup (Bacolod)
- Crocs Invitational (Davao)
- Lirazan Cup (Dumaguete)
- DepEd Division, Provincial, and Regional Meets
And their crown jewel: Seven straight years as Defending Champions of the DepEd Division Meet.
Every medal, every trophy, is a reminder: BUFC is proof that grit can outshine gold.
Beyond Football: Changing Destinies
But trophies aren’t BUFC’s ultimate scoreboard. The real victories are the lives rewritten. Many of its players have earned varsity scholarships in Bacolod and Manila —life-changing opportunities for families who could never dream of affording college. For them, football isn’t just a sport. It’s a bridge to education, dignity, and a better future.
The club survives with no government or school funding. Instead, it thrives on the kindness of friends and donors who step in with food, equipment, or a helping hand. Yet what sustains BUFC most is its culture of unity. Every child knows: once you wear the crest, you are family.
A Culture of Discipline and Hope
Step into a BUFC training session, and you’ll hear more than the thud of a ball. You’ll hear the lessons of life:
- Discipline.
- Respect.
- Patience.
- Resilience.
- Mental toughness.
Qualities that will serve these kids not only on the pitch, but in classrooms, workplaces, and communities. This is football as a school of life—and BUFC is the classroom where character is forged.
Dreams for Tomorrow
The future vision is bold but simple:
- To see every child reach their full potential.
- To have 90% of graduates secure scholarships through football.
- To keep producing athletes who play with skill, commitment, and hheart.
The challenges are heavy— equipment, lack of support, and facilities remain constant struggles. But the dream is stubborn. With the right support, BUFC could give its children the tools they deserve, and perhaps send more of them toward national stardom.
More Than a Club
At its core, BUFC isn’t just about football. It’s about giving children the courage to dream. It’s about turning shy schoolkids into leaders, and teaching them that discipline, respect, and unity can open doors far beyond the pitch.
The motto says it all: “Unity Towards One Goal.”
Bacolod United Football Club is more than a team. It is a movement. A family. A symbol of hope in the heart of Negros.
This is BUFC. United. Driven. Forever playing for one goal.
OneFutbol Honors Bacolod United FC
At OneFutbol, we honor Bacolod United FC for carrying the torch of grassroots football in Negros. With passion as its fuel and community as its foundation, BUFC has opened doors for countless children— proving that football is a game of opportunity as much as it is a game of goals. Here, children don’t just learn to play— they learn to believe, to persevere, and to dream beyond their circumstances.
To support Bacolod United FC, follow or reach out here:
- Facebook: Bacolod United FC
- Email:
joshuafegidero@yahoo.com
Bacolod United FC is more than a team. It is a family, a movement, and a reminder that when you chase one goal together, the whole community rises. 
