CFA red cards Springdale and coach for 3 years

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Football Association (CFA) has banned PAREF Springdale and its coach, Mario Ceniza, from joining CFA-sanctioned tournaments for three years after the latter withdrew from the Aboitiz Cup.

“They banned Paref-Springdale and coach Mario because of their withdrawal from the Aboitiz Cup, without due process,” said a reliable source who refused to be named.

The source said that last January 31, they received a warning letter telling them about the consequences of withdrawing from the tournament and the next day, they received a letter still dated January 31, announcing the sanction that they made for the team.

 In the Philippine Football Federation catalogue, the sanction can be given when there is due process and the sanction will be six months.

“Three-year sanction was a cruel decision for a football association that promotes grassroots program. Who suffered from the decision? It’s the kids, the grassroots that they’re referring to,” the source said.

The Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC)-affiliated Paref-Springdale sent a letter of withdrawal from the Aboitiz Cup after the incident that had happened, when the school’s Under-14 squad was forfeited against Blessed John Seminary team in the said tournament.

The problem all started with the Sinulog Cup, which was a CAFC-organized tournament, which happened to have conflicting schedule with the Aboitiz Cup.

There was a request to CFA to adjust the schedule for the Aboitiz Cup on that day, but this was turned down.

The organizers of the Sinulog Cup, which was an event of the Cebu City Sports Commission, instead adjusted their schedules so as not to affect the Aboitiz Cup.

 Finishing all the matches in the Sinulog Cup in the morning, both Paref Springdale and Blessed John Seminary went straight to the Aboitiz field for their scheduled match at noon.

Blessed John Seminary arrived at the field just a hairline ahead of Paref-Springdale, who were still at the gate when the game was decided in favor of Blessed John despite the goalie of Springdale rushing to the field to inform officials that they were there.

“Some of the parents were already on the field telling the organizers that our players were already coming. And why they did not forfeit the game when both squads were not yet around. It could have been a double forfeiture. They already saw us in the gate, but still they forfeit us,” the source said.

“We did not withdraw without any valid complain. We decided to pull out because we were not treated properly. We took time there, nidagan na ang among goalie but ilaha gihapong gi-forfeit,” (...our goalie ran, but they still forefeited the game) the source said.

There was a post conference after that incident, wherein they were asked why they joined the Sinulog Cup when it’s just nothing unlike the Aboitiz Cup where players can go somewhere.

“As an association dealing with grassroots program, they should be happy nga daghan ug tournaments. The kids and coach Mario became the collateral damage between the faction of our group and CFA.”

The Freeman tried to reach CFA for its side, but they could not be reached as of this writing. (FREEMAN)