Thursday, June 29, 2006

FOOTBALL BODY CREATES AUDIT TEAM


Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)
Thursday, June 29, 2006Football issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has set up an internal audit team to address the issues raised by the National Capitol Region regarding its business transactions.

In a memo sent to the 28 football associations in the country, PFF president Johnny Romualdez appointed Neil Frazer, president of the Misamis-Ozamiz Football Association; Pastor Merced, president of the Negros Oriental Football Association; and Apolonio Clemente Jr., president of the Butuan-Agusan Football Association to the audit team.

Concerns

Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo said those with questions regarding the PFF finances may address their concerns to the three members.

“Among the concerns they are to address are how the FIFA funds are spent, the administrative expenses, who receives what salary and allowances. This is also to help dispel any doubts on the correctness and veracity of the financial report submitted during the Board of Governors Meeting last February,” said Maximo.

Funds

The PFF received P14.3 million from FIFA, P3.6 million from the Asian Football Confederation, and P6.5 million from the Asean Football Federation, as well as the P13 million it is set to receive from other sources, for its P38 million budget this year.

However, the PFF is projected to spend almost all of the money, including P5 million for administration.

The National Capitol Region Football Association earlier asked the PFF to allow its team of auditors and lawyers to look into its business transactions. The PFF denied the request. (ML)

Sunday, June 25, 2006

CEBUFA CHIEF: PFF, NCRFA FEUD COULD GET RP SUSPENDED


Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)
Sunday, June 25, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter

Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo said the latest infighting between the National Capitol Region Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation could lead to the country’s suspension from the sport’s governing body, FIFA, a fate suffered by basketball, which got suspended by FIBA.

“I can’t remember the name of the country, but FIFA has suspended one member,” Maximo said.

The NCRFA asked the PFF to allow its team of accountants to check the business transactions of the organization and has also asked PFF president Johnny Romualdez to turn over the rein of the PFF to Rene Adad, the former president.

Revocation

The issued stemmed from the PFF’s revocation of its certificate of registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission last Nov. 3, 2003, three weeks before Romualdez was elected president. The revocation was discovered only last May and the NCRFA contested that because of the revocation Romualdez isn’t the legitimate president and is not authorized to act as PFF head.

A check with the FIFA website showed that it suspended the Yemen Football Association for violating Article 17 of the FIFA Statues last year.

Article 17 states: “A member’s bodies shall be either elected or appointed in that association. A member’s statues shall provide for a procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the election or appointment.

“Any member’s bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with the provisions of paragraph one, even on an interim basis, shall not be recognized by FIFA. Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with paragraph one shall not be recognized by FIFA.”

If the PFF does get suspended by FIFA, Maximo said the Cebu Football Association will become just an ordinary sports group.

International tournaments

“We will lose the blessing or mandate to govern football in Cebu. Though we can still continue to hold tournaments, we can no longer join international tournaments,” said Maximo, who was named the head of delegation for the Philippine team, which had three Cebuanos, in the Under-14 Youth Festival in Malaysia last month.

To prevent the issue from getting out of hand, Maximo said he will initiate a move, in conjunction with the other football association presidents, to have the issue settled within the PFF, instead of in court.

The NCRFA plans to bring the issue to court as a last option.

“There should be a consensus with the other FAs because this is affecting everybody already, especially now that there are coming national tournaments and we are set to host the LG Cup in November. We should initiate moves to have an honest-to-goodness meeting between the two parties,” Maximo said. (ML)

Sunday, June 04, 2006

RP U-14 BEATS MALDIVES


Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)
Sunday, June 04, 2006 issue
by Mike Limpag, Staff Reporter
Paul Taneo, Sports Editor

Team Philippines scored a win in the Asian Football Confederation Under-14 Festival of Football in Malaysia. After dropping all its first three matches without scoring a goal, the Philippines drew with Australia, 1-1, before winning over Maldives, 1-0, in the youth football festival.

However, against Southeast Asian giant Thailand, the powerhouse showed there is still a large gap between potential and tradition as the Thais whipped the Pinoys, 4-0.

“The team somewhat recovered from its first-day jitters and were physically and mentally prepared to play,” said head of delegation and Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.

Cebuanos in the team are midfielder Kevin Tecson, who is on his second stint with the youth squad, defender Evanjames Mendoza, and goalkeeper Joshua Cruz, the youngest member of the team.

Against Australia, Ken Kazuo Hager, a Fil-Swiss based in Davao, struck from left flank to put the Philippines on top, 1-0.

However, Christian de San Juan fouled an opponent in the dying minutes, paving the way for the equalizer by Australia through a penalty. (ML)