Football official passes away

Chris Monfort, one of the finest soccer players the country has ever produced, died early yesterday morning of severe head and body injuries he sustained in a vehicular accident along Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City.

Monfort, who was alone at the time of accident, was on his way home to White Plains at around midnight when his Kia Pride rammed into a flyover post in front of the Ateneo compound.

The 41-year-old Monfort, on his fifth year as secretary-general of the Philippine Football Federation, was brought to the Quezon City Medical Center where doctors tried, but failed, to revive him. He was declared dead at 2:30 a.m.

Monfort had just arrived from Korea last Monday after gracing the Asian Football Federation Cup.

"It’s a very sad day for Philippine sports… particularly football. The PSC is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Chris Monfort," PSC chairman Carlos Tuason said in a statement released by the PSC media bureau.

Monfort’s remains now lie in state at the Ateneo High School Chapel. He left behind his wife Gina and two kids, Carlos and Zico, who were named after soccer greats from Spain and Brazil, respectively.

Monfort started his playing career at the Don Bosco Victorias in Negros Occ. and rose to fame in the early ’80s as a member of the national team. He also played for Magnolia in the now-defunct national football league.

After hanging up his sneakers, Monfort coach Ateneo football team in the UAAP and was later named the school’s athletic director while serving as official trainer of a couple of PBA teams, including the RFM franchise, in the early ’90s.