By Noel S. Villaflor
NOT so long ago, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) planted an idea in the minds of Filipinos that the sport will soon emerge from its nightmarish state.
In September of 2008, AFC Vision Asia officials announced the inception of “a massive development plan to elevate the quality of football in the country.”
The AFC and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) handpicked the Cebu Football Association (CFA) to be at the forefront of the campaign.
The dreamers sprung into action, as representatives of AFC Vision Asia met with PFF and CFA officials to formulate the plan of making Cebu the pilot area of Vision Philippines, a 10-year grassroots development program. AFC Vision Asia pledged to fund the project.
As discussed during several days of planning, a few technical requirements had to be ironed out, one of which was for the CFA to amend its by-laws in line with Fifa statutes.
Less than a year later, the CFA, in a General Assembly in August 2009, amended its bylaws. PFF president Mari Martinez himself made sure to fly all the way to Cebu and attend the gathering to express his support for the ratification.
“It’s the first FA in the country to do so,” a CFA board member had said, pointing out that even the PFF has yet to update its bylaws.
In January this year, the CFA launched the Vision Philippines grassroots project, assembling young “elite players” ages eight to 16 from different clubs and schools all over Cebu, mentored no less by licensed coach volunteers.
Every afternoon for several weeks, dozens of players from the different groups would religiously train under stifling conditions at the Aboitiz Football Field.
But one weekend the practice sessions abruptly ended. The reason: funds the AFC promised never reached the CFA, sending the Vision Philippines’s pilot project in limbo.
I asked a CFA insider what happened. The PFF, he said, never sent them any money.
The AFC had earmarked at least P200,000 for the CFA program this year, and another P200,000 for the next. However, the AFC apparently cannot directly send funds to the CFA and had to course the money through the PFF.
The CFA repeatedly asked the PFF about the funds. CFA president Richard Montayre, the insider said, even had to meet the PFF president in his office to ask about the funds and why this wasn’t released. The CFA president ended up storming out of the office without getting a straight answer.
Left with limited options, the CFA emailed the AFC about the funds. The CFA was in for a surprise: it received a letter from the AFC last June recommending “a few amendments” in CFA statutes.
Now, didn’t they go through this before?
According to a June 23 report published on its website, the AFC has asked the CFA “to make the changes to take Vision Philippines-Project Cebu a step forward.”
The changes recommended mainly involved membership and disciplinary issues, none of
which has anything to do with the handling of funds.
To amend the CFA statutes meant the holding of another assembly and wasting scarce resources.
The CFA insider wondered: Why did the AFC not push these recommendations at the onset?
And granted the CFA does labor to amend its statutes anew, what next? What other set of recommendations would be needed to take the project “a step forward”? What other bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo and labyrinthine nonsense would the AFC spelunkers hatch next?
This “amendment” explanation sounds like an elaborate excuse to withhold funds. I can’t help but ask whether the deficiencies in the CFA statutes are reason enough.
If so, how come the PFF continues to get assistance from the AFC? Didn’t the AFC find anything to rectify with the PFF’s “un-amended” statutes?
In a newsletter the PFF released last year, a headline read: “PFF: Financially healthy.” In the story, the PFF treasurer trumpeted the PFF’s fiscal gains for 2009.
Fine.
But there was one detail in this paragraph I found disturbing: “Fiscal discipline, strict expenses, addition of new sponsors, and new assistance from Vision Asia helped PFF hit its financial target this year.”
I wonder where that “new assistance from Vision Asia” went. To dreamland, perhaps? But definitely not to its pilot project in Cebu.
(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)
Sun Star Cebu
28 July 2010
UFL - Meeting August 5
Notice to ALL Metro Manila Football Clubs - The UFL Cup, which will kick off in October 2010, is considering opening its doors for more Football Clubs to participate. There will be a meeting for interested parties on Aug. 5, 2010 at 6:30PM, Makati Sports Club. Please confirm your attendance on this thread. More details will be shared with you at the meeting.
Facebook UFL
Facebook UFL
Manila Football - Sanchez Roman Cup
Sunken Garden United Football Club would like to invite you to join the "Sanchez Roman Cup" - a 7-aside football festival on August 15, 2010 at the UP Athletic Oval in Diliman, Quezon City. Interested teams can join for only P2,000, with a maximum of 12 players. Trophies and other suprises are at stake! Contact Steph (...0916-5467835) or Titan (09173953862) for inquiries.
Camarines Sur Football - Copa de Camarines
Time August 21 · 7:00am - 11:00pm
Location Opening: Central Bicol State University of Agriculture
Naga City - Camarines Sur Football Association
More Info Copa de Camarines: A year-round, 11-a-Side Football Tournament for Elementary, High School and College/Open
Camarines Sur FA Facebook
Location Opening: Central Bicol State University of Agriculture
Naga City - Camarines Sur Football Association
More Info Copa de Camarines: A year-round, 11-a-Side Football Tournament for Elementary, High School and College/Open
Camarines Sur FA Facebook
26 July 2010
Davao Football - Medvil posts another win
DEFENDING champion Medvil and Kapisanang Magkaibigan Multi-purpose Cooperative (KMMPC) turned back separate rivals in the Acer Cup Under-23 Tournament at the Tionko football grounds Sunday afternoon.
Medvil crushed Columbia, 5-1, while KMMPC blanked Ebocci, 2-0, in the meet presented by Acer Philippines in cooperation with the Davao Football Association and Columbia Computer Center.
Medvil's Francis Philip Alcala and Joey Arobo hit back-to-back goals in the 20th and 25th minutes, respectively, to give their team an early 2-0 lead.
But Columbia's Jervie Paalan scored in the 35th to cut Medvil's lead by just a goal.
Frances Jay Abrasaldo, however, countered in the 52nd followed up by Renelle Pino in the 71st for Medvil to pull away, 4-1. Abrasaldo then made it 5-1 with another goal in the 79th.
KMMPC, meanwhile, grabbed its second win in five outings through the heroics of Jestoni Concepcion (77th) and Rocky Custodio (89th).
Medvil is still on top of the team standings with five wins, zero-draw and one loss while Seagull Porky's Lechon took the second spot with a 4-0-1 card.
Columbia (3-0-3), KMMPC (2-0-4) and Ebocci (1-0-4) are trailing in the team standing. (MLSA)
Sun Star Davao
Medvil crushed Columbia, 5-1, while KMMPC blanked Ebocci, 2-0, in the meet presented by Acer Philippines in cooperation with the Davao Football Association and Columbia Computer Center.
Medvil's Francis Philip Alcala and Joey Arobo hit back-to-back goals in the 20th and 25th minutes, respectively, to give their team an early 2-0 lead.
But Columbia's Jervie Paalan scored in the 35th to cut Medvil's lead by just a goal.
Frances Jay Abrasaldo, however, countered in the 52nd followed up by Renelle Pino in the 71st for Medvil to pull away, 4-1. Abrasaldo then made it 5-1 with another goal in the 79th.
KMMPC, meanwhile, grabbed its second win in five outings through the heroics of Jestoni Concepcion (77th) and Rocky Custodio (89th).
Medvil is still on top of the team standings with five wins, zero-draw and one loss while Seagull Porky's Lechon took the second spot with a 4-0-1 card.
Columbia (3-0-3), KMMPC (2-0-4) and Ebocci (1-0-4) are trailing in the team standing. (MLSA)
Sun Star Davao
25 July 2010
Villaflor: English coach leaves Azkals flatfooted
By Noel S. Villaflor
UNCONFIRMED reports online say Englishman Des Bulpin, has quit as coach of the Philippine Men’s National Team.
Wikipedia, though, quickly listed as “vacant” the entry under the team’s head coach, while another entry says he now “manages India’s Under-19 team.”
Among conflicting reports why Bulpin resigned is that politics made it difficult for him to run the team.
Blogger Louie Encabo, who runs the site usapangfootball.webs.com, writes: “Des’
decision was made simpler when a lucrative India U-19 team coaching position was offered to him. Not only do they have better facilities but they have an organized Federation as well.”
India having an “organized Federation,” in Encabo’s words, suggests the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is not. Bulpin should now know that firsthand.
Some observers might find Bulpin’s resignation shocking, but I’m actually even more surprised that he lasted this long as Philippine coach, a job he himself described to a sports scribe as “a massive challenge.”
But finding the challenge too massive even for his Englishman’s wits, he flees faster than one can say “bollocks.” To hell with that one-year contract he signed in November last year, and never mind if the men’s team is joining the Asean Football Cup qualifiers this October.
(As an Azkals fan, it’s hard to forgive Bulpin for leaving at the height of the team’s preparations. An honorable man would have finished the job. The PFF mafia, on the other hand, is beyond redemption.)
This development must be annoying to a columnist for a national broadsheet, who wrote glowingly about Bulpin last February, even recklessly quoting a source, “He (Bulpin) may not be the best coach out there but he’s much better than anyone locally.”
(PFF technical director Aries Caslib took exception to the discriminatory statement, and was quick to reply with a list of Filipino coaches who are fit for the job.)
I pity the two benefactors, one of whom sits as team manager, who bankrolled Bulpin’s expenses, while the PFF need not spend a single cent by “outsourcing” its responsibilities of handling the national team.
Even more pathetic, Bulpin’s departure would give the PFF a convenient excuse should the team fare poorly in October.
But I hope not.
(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)
Sun Star Cebu
Comment : I posted in my blog already on May 21 that Des Bulpin was on the way to India.
UNCONFIRMED reports online say Englishman Des Bulpin, has quit as coach of the Philippine Men’s National Team.
Wikipedia, though, quickly listed as “vacant” the entry under the team’s head coach, while another entry says he now “manages India’s Under-19 team.”
Among conflicting reports why Bulpin resigned is that politics made it difficult for him to run the team.
Blogger Louie Encabo, who runs the site usapangfootball.webs.com, writes: “Des’
decision was made simpler when a lucrative India U-19 team coaching position was offered to him. Not only do they have better facilities but they have an organized Federation as well.”
India having an “organized Federation,” in Encabo’s words, suggests the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is not. Bulpin should now know that firsthand.
Some observers might find Bulpin’s resignation shocking, but I’m actually even more surprised that he lasted this long as Philippine coach, a job he himself described to a sports scribe as “a massive challenge.”
But finding the challenge too massive even for his Englishman’s wits, he flees faster than one can say “bollocks.” To hell with that one-year contract he signed in November last year, and never mind if the men’s team is joining the Asean Football Cup qualifiers this October.
(As an Azkals fan, it’s hard to forgive Bulpin for leaving at the height of the team’s preparations. An honorable man would have finished the job. The PFF mafia, on the other hand, is beyond redemption.)
This development must be annoying to a columnist for a national broadsheet, who wrote glowingly about Bulpin last February, even recklessly quoting a source, “He (Bulpin) may not be the best coach out there but he’s much better than anyone locally.”
(PFF technical director Aries Caslib took exception to the discriminatory statement, and was quick to reply with a list of Filipino coaches who are fit for the job.)
I pity the two benefactors, one of whom sits as team manager, who bankrolled Bulpin’s expenses, while the PFF need not spend a single cent by “outsourcing” its responsibilities of handling the national team.
Even more pathetic, Bulpin’s departure would give the PFF a convenient excuse should the team fare poorly in October.
But I hope not.
(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)
Sun Star Cebu
Comment : I posted in my blog already on May 21 that Des Bulpin was on the way to India.
Younghusbands sets of youth football tourney
To promote football among Filipino children and hopefully, hone future World Cup athletes, The Younghusband Football Academy (TYFA) and Muntinlupa Parañaque Las Piñas Football Association (MPLFA) opened a youth league on Saturday at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City. The football league, which is participated by children ages four to 17 years old from 15 teams, aims not only to harness the skills of the young athletes but to introduce football to less fortunate children.
“This league is about you. You are the future of football. It’s not about winning. It’s about your development—in leadership, hardwork and teamwork,” Philippine National Football team midfielder and TYFA co-founder Philip Younghusband told the children participating the event.
Younghusband, 22, believes that Philippines has its big potential of building future World Cup athletes. He even stressed that the World Cup champions’ height ranges only form 5’6" to 5’7", which is also the average height of male Filipinos.
“I believe in 12 years time, we can produce our first World Cup team,” Younghusband said.
“We organize the league on a regular basis because we believe that it is an effective method to develop the skills of the players,” said Cathy Rivilla MPLFA president and match commisioner of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The sporting event for the youth also paved way to introduction of the 1 Goal “Education for all” signature campaign, which is also supported by the FIFA. Younghusband calls everyone to support the campaign through just signing.
The campaign, through the 30 million signatures it will gather worldwide, aims to urge world leaders who will attend this September’s United Nations Heads of States summit in New York to prioritize education in their countries.
Manila Times
“This league is about you. You are the future of football. It’s not about winning. It’s about your development—in leadership, hardwork and teamwork,” Philippine National Football team midfielder and TYFA co-founder Philip Younghusband told the children participating the event.
Younghusband, 22, believes that Philippines has its big potential of building future World Cup athletes. He even stressed that the World Cup champions’ height ranges only form 5’6" to 5’7", which is also the average height of male Filipinos.
“I believe in 12 years time, we can produce our first World Cup team,” Younghusband said.
“We organize the league on a regular basis because we believe that it is an effective method to develop the skills of the players,” said Cathy Rivilla MPLFA president and match commisioner of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The sporting event for the youth also paved way to introduction of the 1 Goal “Education for all” signature campaign, which is also supported by the FIFA. Younghusband calls everyone to support the campaign through just signing.
The campaign, through the 30 million signatures it will gather worldwide, aims to urge world leaders who will attend this September’s United Nations Heads of States summit in New York to prioritize education in their countries.
Manila Times
24 July 2010
Davao Football - 2010 Kadayawan Football Festival
2010 Kadayawan Football Festival will take place at the Tionko Football Grounds on August 21 and 28.
Contact Davao FA
Contact Davao FA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
