Fair Play: The Philippine F______ Federation

LACK of funds is the phrase you often hear from the PFF these days. The group uses this excuse so often that it won’t surprise me if Mari Martinez will start calling his organization, the Philippine F_____ Federation because they can’t afford to use the word football.

No national events for lack of funds.


No tournaments abroad for lack of funds.

It’s a good thing then that Fifa president Sepp Blatter said otherwise.

For presiding over the world’s most popular sport, Fifa has lots and lots of money and unlike the Philippine F____ F, it’s willing to share.

A dispatch from AP the other day said Blatter was so happy with Fifa’s finances—they got more than a $1 billion in reserve—that he’s spreading the love.

“Blatter said Fifa would use its strong financial position to give extra money to members and confederations. Each national federation is set to receive $200,000 on top of its annual grant, with $2.5 million paid to each of the six continental bodies.”

On top of its annual grant.

Last I heard of the annual grant, it was $250,000 a year. I also read of a $400,000 grant in 2007, but of course, the PFF doesn’t have any money.

Next year?

After the Philippine F_____ F gets this additional gift from Fifa? Well, don’t expect any national tournaments.

It doesn’t have any money.

President Martinez said he will resign if he fails to make football the second-most popular sport in the country six months into his term.

I’m so glad that there’s only 18 months left of his four-year term.

I hope the PFF also runs out of funds that it can’t afford a president.

Oh well, I can dream, can’t I?

I was asked more than a couple of times why people would fight to be the president of an NSA.

Well, Blatter just gave one of the reasons.

Another was a P10 million aid given by the AFC to Martinez last year, a doleout even he admits he already spent for other purposes.

Government money, despite the safeguards, can be stolen or spent for other purposes.

For the NSAs, nobody is really checking if the money is really spent the way it is supposed to be spent.

It’s probably one of the reasons everybody wants to be an NSA president.

PSC POLITICS. Soon to be Philippine president Noynoy Aquino hasn’t even sat on Ate Glue’s chair but he’s getting a lot of applicants for the Cabinet posts.

The sports community, of course, won’t allow itself to be left out so they’re offering a lot of names to replace Harry Angping, the PSC chairman.

The PBA, you know, the one people call the San Miguel league, even did one better and pushed for one of its own—Ricky Vargas--to be the next PSC chair.

Not to be outdone, the POC, headed by Angping’s mortal enemy, Peping Cojuangco, conducted a mock poll—I just hope they won’t have a version of Koala Boy—and also said the next PSC chair must come from their list of recommendees.

Jeez, can’t you guys just wait for whoever Noynoy appoints? I mean, you’re all acting like Ate Glue’s boys.

Just wait, will you?

TURNING 31. Well what do you know, it’s been another year. I’ll be having another of those where-did-the-past-year-go parties this Thursday, and just like last year, everybody’s invited.

This year, the venue is at 6°14’41.85” North and 125° 5’46.28” East.

See you!

Comments

mo billacura said…
i agree with you mike.
the philippine football federation during the time of atty.adad as president was very active and organized many tournaments in davao and in key cities and provinces in mindanao.
now?
despite the reports that FIFA has been supporting the PFF, including the building of a multi-million PFF office, they have forgotten to organize tournaments in davao and in mindanao.
it's been a long, long time i have not seen a PFF official in davao.
they must have forgotten that they existed because of the football players in the country.

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