| Wasted opportunity |
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| Monday, 10 March 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LONDON - PERSONALLY I do not know Charlie Cojuangco, president of the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA). The closest I could have talked to him was during the pre-election articles I have written for this website. I called him but a man who said he was his assistant answered the mobile. He then said that Mr. Cojuangco could not speak to me as he was busy. I asked for his football program as Charlie was one of the candidates for the top Philippine Football Federation (PFF) post. The man on the phone promised me that he will e-mail the program to me. Until now I am still waiting for the program. Mr. Cojuangco eventually withdrew from the PFF race and Jose Mari Martinez and Ed Formoso battled it out for the PFF presidency. Martinez won the race and he is now sitting on his throne in Manila. My heart sided with Ed Formoso during that election but my head was rooting for Charlie. Why Charlie? Because he has the clout, he has the wealth and he has a football program implemented in Negros Occidental that is an envy of everyone. The Cojuangco family practically own almost half of the province. They also own more than 50 percent of the country's largest food and beverage company, San Miguel Corp. Recently however, there has been a big fuss on his refusal to host the Asian Challenge Cup group 2 qualifying tournament at the Panaad stadium. The tournament is supposed to be Martinez' first big time project after starting his reign this January. Sources from Bacolod revealed that Martinez went to Bacolod to present Charlie the project. Charlie turned it down. So what happened next? Martinez then went to the officials of Bacolod city who willingly gave out their blessings. It was a slap on the face of Charlie. He then released a statement in the press stating that Nofa is not involved in the project. The PFF was embarrassed and eventually moved the tournament to Iloilo. After this debacle, Charlie got a lot of flak from tiny football community in our beloved country. This issue has already started to dwindle as Charlie and the PFF have gotten back to their day jobs. The PFF now busy with their preparation for the Asian Challenge Cup and Charlie caring for his family and business. LESSONS There are lots of lessons we could learn from this controversy. First is that the PFF has known for a fact that Bacolod and Nofa have been hosting countless of international and local tournaments the past years. Can't the PFF help develop another stadium which can also host international competitions aside from the one in Bacolod? I have been to Panaad only once during its construction before Bacolod hosted the Centennial Palarong Pambansa in 2000. Then PSC commissioner and now Bacolod congressman Monico Puentebella accompanied me to the still under construction stadium. It was impressive but I have not seen it personally as a finished stadium. They say it is fantastic, that is why the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) always pick it to host their tournaments. It has also flood lights so matches could be played at night. Now with Nofa refusing to host the tournament PFF has Iloilo to host the project. Iloilo has a nice stadium in La Paz. The province also has a good football pitch in Barotac Nuevo. But it is too far away from the city. I really do not know the state of the stadium since the last time I was in Iloilo was still in 1987 when I accompanied the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) football team to the Visayas finals of the now defunct Coke Go-for-Goal football program. The stadium was still under construction also during that time. They say it is now good enough to host international tournaments but the only problem is that it has no flood lights. So the games will be played under the sun baked summer heat. That will be very bad and could kill the players. The best place where the PFF can find a place to help develop a soccer specific stadium is Cebu. Cebu city has hundreds of hectares of land at the South reclamation area. Can someone from the PFF convince the Cebu city government to set up a football training center in the area. If only I have the millions I will just build it myself. There is a rumour that is going around now in Cebu city that the Aboitiz Group Foundation is planning to build a mini football stadium in their property at the Cebu city North reclamation area. The project is in the planning stages yet. But if the PFF can get in touch with the Aboitiz officials then we can have another international venue aside from the Panaad stadium. THE COJUANGCO FACTOR Charlie is the son Eduardo `Danding' Cojuangco the chairman of of San Miguel Corp., RP's biggest food and beverage company. He does not need football to be famous and powerful. He is already rich and powerful and everyone knows that. What everyone does not know is the `real' reason why he turned down the PFF project. If only Charlie could tell his father to help football then our sport could be very blessed. San Miguel has invested so much in basketball. Just watch the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and you can just envy how much money they pour to the sport. San Miguel maintains Magnolia, Purefoods, Ginebra and Coca Cola in the PBA. Four teams with multi million peso budget. A marque PBA players earns P500,000 monthly salary excluding bonuses. So imagine how much a PBA team spends every year for the player's salary alone. What if San Miguel folds up one of its teams and give the budget to football? The PFF could set up a semi-pro league and that will be the start of the `Golden Age' of Philippine football.  BEND IT SWEEPSTAKESMikeH is our winner for the month of February. Mike please send me an e-mail at jackbiantan@yahoo.com. I need your home address so that I can send you your England jersey. January winner Dino Dizon has confirmed that he already got his England jersey and one surprise token. Here he is with his foto wearing the England away jersey. GOD BLESS Email the author
ceburoo
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| RMFC said: The information that we received and that have been verified is that Mr. Cojuangco has contacted some association heads and coaches from different provinces regarding the tournament he is planning for Bacolod. No formal invitations have been sent out, no details provided except for date and prize money and no formal announcement either. So far everything is being done discreetly. ____________________________________________ So obviously Charlie is flexing his muscle by putting on this tournament in a fit of pique as his ego has been dented. So congrats to the PFF for going elsewhere and holding the tournament in IloIlo. I doubt that the facilities in Iloilo would be as good as Bacolod but the PFF has to show that it is the dog that is wagging the tail NOT the tail wagging the dog. The fact that the Iloilo facilities are not as good as Pana-ad is a black eye to the whole of the Philippines that it sadly lacks quality venues throughout the country. But what is a bigger black eye to the football community is the fact that Charlie is organizing this tournament to take the attention away from the National teams participation in the AFC tournament because he has the clout to do so. What will the media in Bacolod do with regards to reporting on both tournaments. From memory the papers in Bacolod aren't very big and the sports pages are fairly small. Who will get the bigger share of the sports page, the National team or Charlies hastily put together nothing for football development, ego tripping, sabre rattling tournament. |
RMFC
said:
| The information that we received and that have been verified is that Mr. Cojuangco has contacted some association heads and coaches from different provinces regarding the tournament he is planning for Bacolod. No formal invitations have been sent out, no details provided except for date and prize money and no formal announcement either. So far everything is being done discreetly. |
ceburoo
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| RMFC said, Mr. Cojuangco is putting up a P200, 000-prize money for the Champs. His plans include the participation of top universities from all over the country. If he succeeds in his plans I believe this will be another issue that will not do any good for football. ____________________________________________ When was this tournament announced. Was it before the AFC plans or after. If it was after then it is obvious what charlie's intentions are. How many teams are participating and will the universities that have players in the national team withdraw them to play in Charlie's tournament?? Who is paying for the transportation and lodging for the teams?? REDDEVIL said Bottomline is, if Charlie C. loves our sport so much, why doesnt he use his leverage to funnel some sponsorship into football on the national stage, not just in their backyard? ____________________________________________ First of all and I address this question to any members from Bacolod who can give and honest appraisal. What is the reaction of the rank and file of Charlie in Bacolod and . . . . HOW MUCH HAS HE REALLY DONE IN HIS OWN BACKYARD? Is THE BAGO facility of Charlie's doing personally or who established it and funded it?? |
RMFC
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| Jack, It may seem that the controversy of the AFC Challenge Cup has dwindled but I am afraid that is not the case. While the PFF is busy attending to the organization and preparation for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup NOFA President, Charlie Cojuangco, on the other hand is engaged in the organization and preparation of another supposedly big football event in Bacolod. This football event will definitely CLASH with the AFC Challenge Cup as the Bacolod event is scheduled on the very same dates as the AFC Challenge Cup. Mr. Cojuangco is putting up a P200, 000-prize money for the Champs. His plans include the participation of top universities from all over the country. If he succeeds in his plans I believe this will be another issue that will not do any good for football. The planned Bacolod tourney per se will be very good for football development but the timing of the event is highly questionable and even raises suspicion on the purity of Mr. Cojuangco?s intentions. If Mr. Cojunagco will insist to have the playing tournament dates coincide with the AFC event then it will be seen by many as directly competing with the PFF and AFC for spectator interest and may divide the attention and publicity for the PFF?s flagship tournament. Mr. Cojuangco?s actions may likewise be construed as disrespectful, unethical and against the principles of solidarity. The AFC Challenge Cup event will be an opportunity for all football loving Filipinos to demonstrate our unity and the spirit of solidarity by giving our full support to our national players its coaches and officials. |
Reddevil
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| Ceburoo, I agree. More recently, its more like whatever is basketball's gain is football's loss. Even with the popularity of the PBA waning in recent years, the money that is still poured into it is, like you said, astronomical. Just look at the 50 million pesos SMC contributed to the men's national basketball team just for their training cost leading up to the Olympic qualifyers. (they didnt even make the semis but as sure as the sky is blue, SMC will give another sizeable amount for preparation for the World Championships for 2010). Bottomline is, if Charlie C. loves our sport so much, why doesnt he use his leverage to funnel some sponsorship into football on the national stage, not just in their backyard? He doesnt need to be the PFF prez to do that. He has his reasons probably and he has probably done some things we dont know about. I am just saying if I had that much clout and money, maybe there could be more SMC money in Philippine football. |
jackbiantan
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| Dominique, I am very glad to know that there are ladies who care for Philippine football. Thanks for the remarks. Continue supporting the beautiful game and convince your folks, and friends that the world's no. 1 sports is not basketball. |
dominique
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| > i also would like to consider the idea of more football pitches in the countyr... and that i share with your dream of being able to construct a complex --- that is if you are rich enough... i would like to be like it as well... if i can, i would think twice of building a football complex in the country... its is so enticing to be addressed as a "football queen in the Philippines" hahahaha (dream on!) OOPS, im sorry its supposed to be: IF I CAN, I WOULDN'T THINK TWICE... and not, i would think twice... |
dominique
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| you know what we lack? a sense of love for the country... we have patriotism, respect, close family ties... but not love for country... its is just painted on the walls of the school, the streets and just in the pages... but not apparent... (i'm sorry to say this) >>> if and only if Mr. Cojuangco was lets say, had the post as the PFF president, yes it could have been easier to host the event, we all know who he is and what he can do... Money is really a factor... without it, we are miserable. > i hope people knows what when and where to make things happen... >>> but i still keep my hope to the current officials of the, its the last remaining in Pandora's box. HOPE! >>> i also would like to consider the idea of more football pitches in the countyr... and that i share with your dream of being able to construct a complex --- that is if you are rich enough... i would like to be like it as well... if i can, i would think twice of building a football complex in the country... its is so enticing to be addressed as a "football queen in the Philippines" hahahaha (dream on!) >>> most of all, i still keep my faith to the team... to the RP Men's Football Team... that they can do it... that they can achieve sans the cooperation of the people in the federation... that they bear the weight of reviving the Cheyne-Stoke breathing Philippine football... perhaps by winning once more for the Philippines and its people subtracting the bigots... now, its all about change and time... |
dominique
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| > i think that the "proper channeling of letters/asking permmison/support-thing that they call" is actually not the real issue and reason why the football event was not held in Panaad... i believe it was a story of miscommunication, greed, trying0to-get-even, egocentrism-and some degree of stupidity > now, let it be known that the people that will suffer with this is no less than the players (the RP team first and foremost), the teams from other competing nations, =and the Filipinos in general... > when i was a volunteer in the SEA games, i was able to talk to the coaches and team managers of Laos football team and other competing team's personnel who shared with me their opinions and remarks about football here in the Phils. > and mind you, they remarked that the pitches here in the country were not the perfect ones... though i say that yes, they may be a poore counrty tahn ours, some are more estableushed in football than we do... so, it looks like even if Panaad and Paglaum stadium passed the requirements of AFC in terms of the facilities, (pitch, lights, grass, quarters), still there is more to do and improve. we cant actually even up to this day give the best to football... >so, i wonder how Iloilo Sports complex can actually host the events. i have read that the Iloilo has a floodlight to make the games possible even at nighttime, but how about Barotac Nuevo... i know that 10 or so years ago, Iloilo has been host to a similar event and Barotc Nuevo as well, but how is it right now...? i want to guess... |
dominique
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| the real issue. 1. to know that the ASian Cup Qualifier will be hosted by the Philippines was really a very good sign that the Philippines is starting to be recognized as a football-oriented country, at least even just by our neighbors. it seems that we are on a good track on promoting awareness and development of football in the country. 2. To have a 3rd International tournament in a matter of 3 years is a good indicator that football sooner or later will be the next religion of the country. this means that trough all these events, we can actually breakthrough it. (Commercially, and Practically) 3. in a effort to support football, we, the Bacolenos and Negrense is really making sure to be present and support the NOFA, PFF or other bodies in terms of crowd whenever events locally or internationally are held in the city. 4. it is with great pride that we have the only (i think so) the AFC regulated stadiums, (Panaad and Paglaum) . 5, it is also with great pride that a number of members of the RP team are actually hailed Negrenses. its just so sad... > that all of these hulabaloo and fresco are happening to our football today. >what could have been another good opportunity to raise awareness and promote the football in the country, or our country itself, the Philippines for that matter has lead to a number of unwarranted if not rigmarole things that could actually ditch football in the country back to the canal again... >that i wish the people that are in power,in the posts, in the organization may be a bit responsible and leave a legacy of accountability in light with the sport. > the PFF is sure to be in the brink of dissolution... if i may say so, i wonder how we looked like in the eyes of FIFA and the other int'l football bodies again... i just realized that similarly, the Phil. basketball has experienced a similar thing as well a few years ago, we were i think de-listed (i don't know what the right term is) byt the FIBA and we were not recognized, if you can remember we weren't able to include basketball in the 2005 SEA GAMES, because the FIBA didn't recognized Phils. *** it was just recently that due to a concerted effort that people in that sport made compromised and collaborations to iron things and it was then that we were recognized by FIBA again. if it was that effective, i think it would be better if football in the Phils will go through that ordeal again... (what a shame...) *** just for us to be able to reflect and do what is necessary! |
dominique
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| its really fascinating that there are actually some people who can talk about Philippine football. i want to air my opinion as well... story telling first... fist and foremost i am no expert or jedi in football. you see, im a lady. duh? (does it matter) and i am a self confessed basketball fanatic since day one. but then it all happened when the SEA Games last 2005 was held here in the Philippines and football was staged here in Bacolod. i was a volunteer that time, i was 18 year old then and was assigned as the Transportation liaison of the Laos Football Team... it was then when i first saw a live football game when i accompanied the team to their game in Paglaum Sports Complex, when i just saw how fascinating and amazing football actually is... well, before i thought that the game was just about 10 players running after a stupid ball, but then i was wrong.. it was in fact and admittedly, "the beautiful game..." |
ceburoo
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| REDDEVIL SAID, Anyway, San Miguel Corp is definitely a huge sponsor and I recall they already had a football team back in the 80's that was competing in some local tournaments. ___________________________________________ Yes they did have a team in the 80's AND WERE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. But that was when the control of San Miguel was in the hands of the Soriano's and being of Spanish extraction their love of football went above the logical reasoning regarding sponsorship return for their peso. Now I may be getting the story wrong but wasnt it (SMC) then taken over by Lucio Tan and the focus as a Filipno head went away from football and onto basketball with football falling by the wayside. When the Cojuangco's then took over though there is a love of football (within the Cojuangco's) basketball was now firmly entrenched in the SMC psyche and football has never been able to re-setablish itself with the powers that be in the SMC Board room. Football's loss is basketball's gain UNFORTUNATELY |
Reddevil
said:
| You know Jack, i really hope the PFF reads your articles and the comments your readers leave. We have some pretty knowledgeable and sensible gentlemen here. Anyway, San Miguel Corp is definitely a huge sponsor and I recall they already had a football team back in the 80's that was competing in some local tournaments. I think the issue of sponsorship and how much money a company like SMC can give is directly related to the exposure our beloved sports gets in the sports pages of our country's newspapers. Ive had this discussion with pinoysoccer's other columnist,Ed Smit. Although popularity here in the Philippines has grown by leaps and bounds, we still havent captured the numbers that can generate exposure and sponsors like San Miguel. In fact that has been the bane of Philippine sports. There is no other team sport that has a substantial sponsorship backing. Its all basketball. When the PBA season ends, its the PBL's turn. Anyway, going back to Charlie Cojuangco. I guess he has done his part with Negros after all like you said Jack, they own half the place. But I think an interesting point has been brought up here, would things change in terms of San Miguel sponsorship if he did become PFF president? I think that will reflect on the type of man Cojuanco is. Jack, you said if you had your millions you would build the stadium in Cebu yourself. Even if your not PFF president. Thats how we love the sport. I rest my case. |
ceburoo
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| I believe that Aboitiz have already started on their field in the Mandaue Recla area. It would appear to be quite a sizable area so that is good news for Cebu. But I dont think there is any plans for it to become an international venue. Regarding San Miguel. Jack you spoke of the PBA budget. Well let me tell you here in Australia that Danding is a very big as in HUGE sponsor regarding the horse racing industry in Sydney. San Miguel sponsor a whole day of racing and Danding has the most amazing stud farm near Mudgee in the western provinces from Sydney. He also has a string of horces that he races as well. The money that is poured into these ventures is astronomical. It is more glamorous for Danding to sponsor the horses than to sponsor the Philippine football program. Sad but true. |
MikeH
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| Anyway. Nice article. I wouldnt imagine San Miguel folding up one of their teams just to sponsor football, but that would be great if they even considered it. Even a couple of the players salary would finance a Visayas league. I dont know much of Cojuangco, but i was told when the Philippines did very well in the last qualifying tournament that he was willing to help and sponsor the RP team. But no news since then. Here is a question, would Cojuangco spend some of his wealth for football if he was the PFF president? |
MikeH
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| damn! nice article, but what blew me away is that i won a jersey??? |
ronaldo
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| the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz is not up to international standards. aside from the lack of field lights, the pitch is terribly uneven especially at the sidelines. there are also lumps and depressions running along the whole center line of the field that causes the ball to make crazy bounces. when the cebu city POF champions played there during the regionals, it rained the night before the game. while it wasn't raining during the match itself, the lack of a proper drainage system meant that portions of the field, especially at the sides was flooded. the ball either skimmed on the surface or got stuck on the mud. the grass on the pitch is a mixture of what we commonly know as "hamogan" (a thin leaf-species)and "bermuda" (a broad-leaf species, both common in grazing fields. while the "hamogan" is sturdy (it develops strong roots and could be cut up to a half-inch growth), "bermuda" is the worst kind of grass that should be used in a professional football pitch because it is dense even when cut short, thus ground balls loose momentum fast. when playing on such a surface, short passes is difficult to judge, especially if your used to playing on firm ground or thin-leaf pitches. Panaad uses what we commonly call "carpet grass". it is better suited for professional football because it is thin-leaf. that means that the pitch dosn't easily slow down ground passes. that's one reason why you see a lot of succesful short passes at Panaad while the Iloilo Sports Complex sees a lot of long balls. During the planning stages of the SRP during the early '90's, an area for public park was alloted, since a proportionate area for open spaces is required for such a development. we call this "buffer zones". unfortunately, the open space that is to become the public park is located at the area that still has to be filled up (i can't recall what pond it is). the filled-up areas of the SRP are the prime real estates (most saleable) thus converting them into a public football stadium won't do the city's cash strapped coffers any good. as far as an SRP field is concerned, we have to wait for some time. this is the first time i heard about an Aboitiz field. bravo if it becomes reality. |
