19 July 2013

POC keeps door open on PFF’s SEA Games bid

By Nick Giongco
Published: July 19, 2013
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said the under-23 team 
that the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) plans to form for the 
2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar might end up beingbeaten 
black and blue by the opposition, but he is not totally discounting the
possibility that a team might be sent.
“Eh kung biglang na-murder?” said POC president Jose
 ‘Peping’ Cojuangco yesterday, hinting of the strong possibility 
of it being overpowered by the regional powerhouses,
 countries that regularly maintain a solid 
under-23 team specifically meant for the SEAG wars.
Cojuangco said he doesn’t like to see football suffering the 
same fate of the much-ballyhooed Philippine Volcanoes 
rugby team, which got massacred in their campaign abroad.
“I wonder who’s going to get inspired,” said Cojuangco, 
sounding off that while he recognizes football’s rise, 
he doesn’t want the public to 
end up broken-hearted.
“It’s not because we haven’t decided yet doesn’t mean 
they’re not going,” said Cojuangco.
Cojuangco said the PFF has to convince the SEAG 
Task Force that it can 
bring home the gold medal by detailing its chances against 
their rivals while brushing off the idea that this year’s SEAG
 will be an opportunity to gain experience.
“Kung pupunta tayo para lamang mag-practice, malaking 
kalokohan yan.”
The last time the PFF sent an under-23 team to the SEAG, 
it failed to get past the elimination round, something 
the POC and PSC vividly remember.
“Football is not yet out. But they have to prove they 
have a chance of winning the gold. I want to see who 
they’re going up against. 
How can you win when you don’t know who you’d be playing 
against?”
POC first vice-president Joey Romasanta said it would 
be an uphill 
climb for the PFF because the “under-23 doesn’t 
have a track to speak of.”
Romasanta had earlier urged the PFF to find a SEAG-caliber 
tournament overseas where it can strut its stuff.
Besides, the deadline for the submission of names for the 
SEAG won’t happen until late October.

Manila Bulletin

2 comments:

  1. Hindi dapat i stop ang ambition ng Philippine Football but the POC had some point in their issue about the U23 football team. Kilala kasi natin na ang PFF ay mahilig sa last minute preparation at hindi ito ika deny dahil pati ang born 1999 para sa Asian Youth Games next month ay wla ring handa ni wla ding imik kung sino ang head coach , manager at kung sino ang kinuhang mga players. Ang technical director ang dapat managot dito dahil alam ng karamihang coaches sa buong Pilipinas na sa kanaya nanggaling lahat ng decision .

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  2. it's poc and psc challenging pff's rise to power.
    just look at how much the malditas have improved and yet they are not also allowed to join. we will consider the protest for u23 and futsal. but not for the malditas. they deserve it the most.

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