Charlie was right

There’s hardly any coverage – if at all – of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under-16 Group E qualifying tournament now being played in Bacolod City and you can only guess why.

Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) president Charlie Cojuangco earlier said it would be an embarrassment for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) to push through with hosting the event as the national team was hastily assembled. He meant it would be like shooting ourselves in the foot if we put up a poorly prepared team to be mauled before our countrymen.

Cojuangco said if the PFF had a commitment to host, maybe the better option would’ve been to just do a good job of staging the event, impressing the visitors with our hospitality and logistical knowhow – and not entering a national team that would shame the local folks.

As it turned out, Cojuangco was right on the button.

The hapless Philippine team was massacred by Japan in its first match. The result was a shameful 12-0 rout. Last Monday, the Filipinos were again mauled, this time by Chinese-Taipei via a 4-1 count.

There are 44 teams entered in the AFC under-16 qualifying tournaments and they’re split into eight groups – six with six teams each, one with five and another with three. The Philippines is bracketed in Group E with Japan, Indonesia, Chinese-Taipei and Bangladesh. The top two finishers in the seven groups of at least five teams, the best third placer overall and the winner of the three-team group (made up of Australia, Malaysia and Laos) will advance to the 16-team AFC under-16 championships.

Clearly, the PFF has no clue as to how to put together a competitive squad for international competitions.

From what we know, there is no short-term, medium-term or long-term plan to develop a strong national team at any level.

Former national football coach Juan Cutillas had this to say about the mess: “Charlie Cojuangco was more than right when he predicted the disaster that the Philippine under-16 team was heading for because of the lack of vision and respect of the PFF towards Philippine football. The Philippines’ first match result was 12-0 for Japan. But what is more embarrassing was it was played on our homegrounds in front of our own people.”

On the Philippines’ 4-1 loss to Chinese-Taipei, Cutillas said “it was embarrassing, to say the least.”

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At the height of typhoon Ondoy’s onslaught, PLDT and Smart executives were out in the streets distributing relief goods. No less than PLDT chairman Manny Pangilinan – wearing a blue cap, jeans and white sneakers – led the way. He was accompanied by PLDT senior vice president Ricky Vargas, Smart Foundation president Butch Meily, Smart Foundation vice president Rogelio Quevedo, Smart customer experience NCR manager Veron Gabaldon, PLDT-Smart public affairs head Mon Isberto, Smart Sports director Patrick Gregorio, executive assistant Abet Dungo, Dr. Raffy Bejar, Evelyn del Rosario and the entire Talk ‘N’ Text basketball team.

The group went to Barangay San Miguel in Pasig City and was received by Mayor Robert Eusebio.

Gregorio said it wasn’t just relief goods that the group contributed.

“We also provided communications support to responding agencies, free calls via Smart Libreng Tawag centers and free consultation and medicines through medical missions set up by the PLDT Medical Services, Makati Medical Center and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center,” he said. “Also, PLDT and Smart designated several offices in Metro Manila as drop-off centers for goods donations to victims. We’re also encouraging cash donations via SMS to the Red Cross or the PLDT-Smart Foundation Smart money accounts.”

What’s more, Gregorio mentioned PLDT Smart’s service never faltered during the storm.

“Beyond saving many lives by having the most reliable cellular network even at the worst weather conditions, Smart continues to help,” said Smart chief wireless advisor Doy Vea.

PLDT and Smart were at the forefront of staging the benefit exhibition basketball games at the Araneta Coliseum last Monday. The effort raised over P2 million, including close to P500,000 in gate receipts. In addition, boxloads of old and new sneakers and rubber slippers were donated by fans, sympathizers and players to be distributed to the typhoon victims.

Postscript: The Asumpro Inc. (Association of Retired and Active Military/PNP Officers) will be holding its first golf tournament at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club, Quezon City, for the benefit of the dependents of departed classmates. Date of the tournament will be announced soon. The Asumpro has undergone summer cadre training and probationary training under its president Maj. Gen. Danilo Mangila PNP (Retired) Ph.D., assistant secretary Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) and vice president Col. Romeo Yaranon PNP (Retired) Ph.D. Other funds generated by the event will be spent for the noble projects of Asumpro.