| New Leadership, Same Need for Accountability |
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| Eduard Smit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 26 November 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LOS ANGELES - WHAT'S that smell? Could it be the fresh scent of new leadership in Philippine football? By golly, I think it is! Well, children, let’s savor it while we can. Like everything else in Philippine politics, and let’s face it, the PFF is very much about politics, we should temper our optimism on the certainty that regardless of who captains the ship, disappointment is never far behind. Don’t get me wrong. Like anyone else, I would love to see all the trappings of a healthy national federation: high levels of participation in youth football; an extensive and regular national league in both men’s and women’s divisions; a development program that effectively channels exceptional talent from the grassroots to our national teams; national teams that consistently improve and participate in regional competition. Given the choice I’d rather see them sooner than later. With the ascent of Jose Mari Martinez, a successful footballer from an era when national sides were even more competitive than today, there is the hope that the spirit that brought these success on the field will translate into success off the pitch. One question, as always, is how far will politics rear its ugly head in this new administration? If the machinations leading to the election last week are any indication – back room deals and last minute maneuvering; suspicion of money changing hands in exchange for support and all the unsavory aspects of electioneering - it will not be long indeed. Despite cries of foul from protagonists and appeals to the Almighty regarding the conduct of the elections, it is hard to imagine that many are untouched by the stain of ruthlessness and hypocrisy. Mr. Martinez has his work cut out for him. While his direct constituencies are the provincial football associations, the eyes of the entire footballing community will be upon him to effect genuine change quickly. Foremost on the agenda should be to repair the severely tarnished image of the PFF, a sorry legacy of the past administration’s preoccupation with issues of power and prestige at the expense of progress in footballing matters. Forthcoming awards by the grand padron of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, notwithstanding, football aficionados know exactly what Johnny Romualdez deserves. There is plenty for the new leader to do and to fix. Personally, I would love to see another issue related to the image of football addressed immediately. In fact, this issue goes much farther than image. It involves the PFF’s very mission and its ability to carry it out. That, my friends, is transparency. As much as some may wish it, the PFF is not an exclusive, private club. It is, in fact, an entity registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The monies that flow into its coffers as well as what flows out and within it must be duly accounted for. Moreover, it is a quasi-governmental agency that receives money from the Philippine government. For this year, that is over P12 million. Sources include the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commision. This being a democracy, the taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. Let me ask you, dear reader, do you know where the federation’s money is going? As a stakeholder in the PFF, you, the average Juan dela Cruz with the football boots on, has a right to know where your pesos are going, no matter how little or how much. “How much?” is an interesting question, especially when it comes to the major source of the PFF’s income – FIFA. FIFA delivered $20,000 through the Financial Assistance Program, a program that redistributes a portion of FIFA’s fabulous wealth to national associations. The FIFA Goal program made available $400,000 to the PFF. The program’s expressed goals are:
So, aside from the need for the people’s money to be accounted for, there is obviously, a need to account for FIFA’s money. This Centennial year, $420,000 came through the PFF’s treasury from Zurich. If FIFA chiefs decide to perform an audit of the PFF’s finances how would the national federation fare? Would it pass muster? This writer had the opportunity to peruse the official 2007 budget. My attention was immediately drawn to some glaring problems relating to budgeted programs/tournaments that were never implemented. The peso amount of the obvious discrepancies alone would have been enough to send our men’s squad to the SEA Games. How will the PFF’s past and present administration explain that? How will similar questions be answered? To his credit, Mr. Martinez guarantees transparency under his administration. Just how far and how extensive that effort will go is unknown. Only time will tell for sure. It’s up to the footballing community to hold Mr. Martinez’s feet to the fire. Paying more attention to what your own FA is doing is part and parcel of being a responsible stakeholder so let’s not forget them either. Ultimately, it is down to us to keep that nice new smell of change from turning into that foul smell of garbage to which we’ve all grown accustomed. Email the author
runi
said:
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| at sana we have at least a league, kahit sana sa Visayas lang muna, cebu, iloilo, bacolod at dumaguete kasi yung mga lugar na yan talagang pinuputakte yung mga football games. at sana susuportahan talaga nang media, at ang pagbabalita naman ng medya hindi basta balita lang, maganda yung may passion at mag encourage sa mga viewers to love, and embrace football. use the younghusbands (phil and james)as ambassadors. they can draw crowd...huge crowd. |
runi
said:
| sana may kalalagyan yung mga taong walang ibang iniisip kundi yung sarili nila (p*@#$$&* ina nila) im a new comer here, as i was reading this article i was surprised kahit pala sa soccer meron din palang mga @#$%%$#. sana mahulog sila sa hagdan at mapilayan. the only problem we have here is not just corruption, kasi kung corruption, halos naman saang bansa meron. i think its about nationalism, national pride, hindi yung individual pocket pride. hope Mr. Martinez has qualities that we hope for. |
ronald
said:
| the new pff admin will indeed be tested on how it wil handle such issues regarding transparency... the recent admin has left a legacy of doubt to all of us that pff admin will tend to corrupt and use every resources for their personal gains... if the will be the scenerio i guess the question will be ask to all of us in this football communnity... are you goin to allow it?... maybe during your time or their time... but not now.. not in our watch...people in the pff had corrupted themselves because people in those time had allow it to happen... as the famous saying goes..."in order for evil to triumph it only needs good men to do nothing".... |
Eduard S
said:
| Thanks, Indiobravo. Priorities have always been a problem at the PFF. Let's hope the new guy can accomplish his goals without too much political compromise. |
Indiobravo
said:
| I may not be familiar with the machinations of the politics in Phil. football,but even a layman cannot understand why a building should be built for an organisation that has failed to bring back football to the Pinoys consciousness.With that amount of money,it's just a shame that nothing significant happened to Phil. football.Yes,inspite of the positive performance of the mens national team in the SEA games. To the new PFF president,we expect more from you.I hope you don't disappoint again. |
Eduard S
said:
| Thanks for the information, Dani. Football surely could use more exposure in print. It has to be independent of the newspapers and ideally run by the fans themselves. |
dani
said:
| Hi Ed, just forgot to say that your and Jack´s columns here on pinoysoccer.com are very impressionable and welcome to read. Also its important and shows how english language can be used as football art. So your words are necessary and sure they will be more, so more football and football webpages becomes more popular in asia society. An idea for future is may be to make your columns public in a filipino team sport magazine. In europe such team sport magazines are very popular. Back to DFB: The source of our words is a man ( "B.F." )who worked some years w/ very high officials inside PFF together.. He knows Nonong Araneta, Charlie Cojuangco, Mari Martinez and many more. He had the task from DFB and more or less from german government to force partnership with PFF. He was in charge with this job between 2000 and 2002. Now he is running pensionaire and he not like to much involved into football business anymore, but he said that he is furtheron ready possible to give some good advices. If you like to contact him , I can forward you his email and contact-ad. If you are interested just write me: fcic_manager@yahoo.com May be Mr. "B.F." will give you some answers. SORRY that we not like to publish his full name and his address here. we promised him some privacy. |
Eduard S
said:
| Thanks AN, Dani, and Reddevil. There is so much we have in common with Viet Nam. I wish the craziness for football was one of those things. Maybe the VN leadership will do better with the gridlock than the city of Makati! I've been reading about the DFB program. Is there someplace I can read it, Dani? I didn't have success finding it on your site. Reddevil, I think that Alain wanted us to identify some more with the younger readership without going as far firing us. I may need to submit an older photo. Much older . |
Reddevil
said:
| Hi Ed, First of all, I noticed the swanky new pictures of you and Jack. Hehehe. They seem to hide the years pretty well..Just kidding. Anyway, excellent coloumn. Well worth the wait after your long hiatus. I was just harping about transparency and accountability in responding to Jack's coloumn a few weeks back. All i can say is, time will tell. There's a lot of work to do and we will see how it pans out. The other point I strongly agree with is the need for the PFF to feel the eyes of the people on them. Lets not pattern the system after how the current government defines democracy. It hasnt shown much interest for the needs of the people. I hope Martinez has a conscience..that will go a long way. Reddevil |
Dani
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| Think the new elected PFF-Admins should have a fair chance! Mr. Martinez was a real good footballer what I´ve heard! And others? Did they ever played football on higher level and they got a heart of it? I think Martinez was a better footballer as his PFF pres. candidacy rivals, so he should have a chance. Mr. Martinez should open the DFB books of advices ( if they were not thrown away ) by not wasting money and so he should use financial budgets for youth players, clubs and national teams! |
AN
said:
| Hi Ed, I wasn't going to comment on your article other than to say you've written a very fluidly read article. You know me and soccer, much less Pinoy soccer! However, it struck me as a surprise when you wrote about that the govt hired Japanese traffic experts to resolve traffic problems [in the Philippines, I suppose]. Well, I'll be damned -- the VN president just visited Japan as recently as last Sunday and asked the Japs for the very same thing! read about it here http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071125/wl_asia_afp/vietnamjapandiplomacytrade Oh well, it's a small [stupid] world. |
Eduard S
said:
| Thanks Mon, One Pinoy and Paul. The problem with the election has to do with the ambiguous language in the PFF by-laws. I'm afraid that we're in for another round of infighting and the lowest of political squabbling. The only losers are going to be us. I'm all for expressing your sentiment in protest. Just remember that Blatter is no saint. The only thing he's interested in is staying in power (sound familiar?) and avoiding a conviction in the European courts. No matter who runs Phil. football Blatter's primary concern is how that person votes. (Also sound familiar?) Paul, your reminded me of something from years ago. The gov't of Makati hired Japanese traffic experts to find a solution to the perennial traffic jams in the city. After months and a ton of money spent the experts were sent home and their work discarded. Makes you wonder what really goes on in the minds of those in power. |
PaulW
said:
| Dear Mr. Smit, I agree w/ your comment and I think Mr. Martinez has earned a chance! He was very openmind in an advance to a transparent club-liga system and he did agree w/ a plan of DFB,! ( our CFCIA group( www.cebuFA.org ) talked with Mr. Martinez in detail about this issue ) Through this DFB plan ( a plan which was designed from GERMAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION beginning 2000 ) we are sure that this helps also WELFARE in PHILIPPNE FOOTBALL at the BEST! VERY DISAPPOINTING that the counter group of Mr. MARTINEZ not agreed w/ such a concept! ( which can bring up new jobs about football and international friendship relation) Several times we did try to get answers from Ed FORMOSOS group, Mr. Maximo, Mr. Romualdez, Mr. PABLITO ARANETA and others... but no answer to the WELFARE PROGRAM of DFB, which is fixed many years now on paper! So.... CLEARLY Mr. MARTINEZ earns a chance, cause he like to be openmind for serious changes with a serious program ( it seems to be ). |
One Pinoy,too short to play B-Ball.
said:
| I totally agree with your column and I'm sure many agree as well. We should assemble a protest rally when Sepp arrives in P.I and express our true feelings about the current state of Football in the Phil. which is rotten, courtesy of Romualdezes program. Who knows it may bring publicity to the game, I'm sure the media will have some kind of coverage about it. This is our big chance, by having a protest we keep these rotten politicians honest by showing them people are paying attention. What do you think? |
Jose Ramon Barrios
said:
| I agree that there should be accountability, and that is long overdue. Pity the national squad both mem's and women's who will have to sit out the SEA games because of budget constraints while we can afford to put up a headquarters per se. We are the laughing stock of the region because the people in charge dont give a F___k! I hope the Mr. Martinez can steer the ship in a new direction. But politics is ever prevalent in that the election results are being questioned due to a lack of majority. |
