MANILA, Philippines - Habang walang nataÂtanggap na official letter ang National Chess FedeÂration of the Philippines (NCFP) mula sa internaÂtioÂnal chess federation na FIDE ay ituturing pa rin nilang miyembro si Grand Master Wesley So.
Ito ang sinabi kahapon ni NCFP president Prospero Pichay, Jr. tungkol sa kagustuhan ng 20-anyos na si So na lumipat sa UniÂted States Chess FeÂdeÂration.
“He’s still part of the feÂderation (NCFP) because we haven’t received any official letter or document saying otherwise,†wiÂka ni Pichay.
Sa blog site ng kanyang coach na si Susan PolÂgar ay inihayag ni So ang kanyang hangaring luÂmipat sa US chess fedeÂration.
Idinahilan ng tubong BaÂcoor, Cavite ang kawalan niya ng financial support mula sa NCFP at PhiÂlippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Hindi rin pinahalaÂgaÂhan ng NCFP at ng PSC ang kanyang nakuhang gold medal mula sa nilahukang University Games sa Kazan, Russia.
“As far as I know, the process is for him (So) to write the federation he is transferring to then that federation will write FIDE, which in turn writes to us at NCFP if we have objections. And so far, we haven’t received any official communication from anyone,†wika ni Pichay.
Kung matanggap man ni Pichay ang official letter mula sa FIDE ay hindi magiging madali ang pagÂpapakawala niya kay So.
“Personally, I want to let him go. But I will be answerable to the FilipiÂno people because until now, he is still receiving taxpayers’ money worth P40,000 a month being a priority athlete,†ani Pichay kay So.
Hindi na rin niya maÂkukumbinse ang WebsÂter UniÂversity standout na baÂguhin ang desisyon niÂto.
“It’s hard to convince people who’s heart is already set on playing for another country,†sabi ni Pichay kay So. “Hindi maÂrunong luÂmingon sa piÂnanggaliÂngan iyan kaya hindi makakarating sa paÂroroonan.â€
Si So, ang No. 15 plaÂyer sa mundo maÂÂtapos magÂhari sa nakaÂraang CaÂÂpablanca MeÂmoÂrial sa CuÂba, ay kailaÂngang sundin ang two-year waiting period para sa mga plaÂyers na gustong lumipat ng federation.