Unite, leaders urged

Drawing the needed financial support from the private sector will only be achieved if the country’s top sports leaders can put up a strong, unified and sincere relationship.

This was the message delivered by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo Thursday night when he met with local sports leaders at the Jade Garden Restaurant in Makati City.

Tackled over dinner was the First Gentleman’s earlier announcement that the government will try its best to draw the support of cash-rich sponsors to help ensure the success of Philippine sports in the future.

But first, the sports scene must be free of any distraction, particularly infighting and leadership squabbles among the various national sports associations, leading to demoralization of the athletes’ part.

"The message is clear. We unite and work harmoniously, and the funds, aside from those coming from the government, will come even for the small NSAs," said PSC chairman Carlos Tuason.

Others who attended the meeting were POC chief Celso Dayrit, PSC commissioners Ritchie Garcia, Weena Lim, Butch Ramirez and Cynthia Carrion, and a big group composed of NSA heads.

The meeting was held amid reports of another rally being planned by former sports leaders and disgruntled athletes who, for the third time in six months, will call for a major revamp in Philippine sports.

The rally is tentatively set Monday morning at the Quirino Grandstand from where the participants might decide to proceed to Malacañang. Sources said Fr. Robert Reyes will join the cause.

The exercise, however, will no longer have the support of athletics chief Go Teng Kok who yesterday said that he and his athletes have decided to focus instead on next year’s Asian Games in Korea.

"Since I was there in the first two rallies, some people have considered me as the leader. But now, I have refused to join them and will even try to dissuade the others from joining," said Go.

"This is not the right time to hold these rallies since chairman Tuason has been talking to us about our problems. He has promised so many things and we’ll take his word," added Go.