The Game of their Lives Part 1 When two tribes go to war

by rick olivares

The PFF (Philippine Football Federation) House of Football at 27 Danny Floro corner Captain Henry Javier in Barangay Oranbo, Pasig City is open five days a week from 8-5pm. Nowadays, its current President Jose Mari Martinez, is the first person at the office everyday at 7am. He is also almost always the last person to call it a day. Even if it’s way past closing time. “I’m a workaholic,” he shrugs pointing to the mountains of folders and paperwork that clutter his desk.

However, some view Martinez’ work ethic to being paranoid that he’d arrive at the PFF one morning only to discover his opponents in the local football scene claiming his office as their own.

Martinez scoffs at the notion and dismissed it to his enemies’ far-fetched imagination and schemes to derail his grand plans for the development of football. Today he is battling gout but that isn’t going to stop him from going to work. “There’s lots to be done,” he says with a passion that lights up his eyes despite the deepening bags beneath them.

He played for San Beda, La Salle, and for country. Now as the head of the country’s top football office, he knows he’s still got some game left in those tired bones of his. “I care for football in this country. I am constantly working for the betterment of football but there are just so many kingmakers out there who want the keys to the football kingdom. And I have many spies inside the office who report to my enemies.”

The comparison might be medieval but there’s a little truth to it.

If there is an insurrection in the making, the chief “kingmaker” Martinez inferred to is Mariano V. Araneta, the President of the Iloilo Football Association who has taken the lead to put a stop what he and many others believe to be anomalies inside the federation. Araneta brushes aside the allegations that he wants the position. “I’m fine where I am,” says Araneta who played for the University of the Philippines and the national team in the early 1980s. “But when there are questionable things going on, you have to point them out.”

Football officials have accused Martinez of illegally appointed one Mr. Henry L. Tsai as a bank signatory without necessary Board of Governors approval using a falsified, notarized Secretary’s Certificate. He also appointed Mr. Tsai as executive vice-president of the PFF last January 1, 2010. “It is a position that assumes the presidency in case of incapacitation of the incumbent,” noted Araneta who pointed to Article 15.3 of the PFF By- Laws that states “The President has the power to appoint all members of the Advisory Council and all officers of the PFF including the Executive Vice-President, and the Treasurer subject to concurrent approval or authorization from the Board of Governors. He may, with the concurrent approval of the Board of Governors, create any and all kinds of Committees he may deem necessary for the exercise of the functions of management, including appointment of the Chairman and members of these committees.”

More : Bleachers´Brew