New regional football group formed

CEBU, Philippines - It's final. The Cebu Football Association and probationary member Bohol Football Association will now form the Cebu Visayas Regional Football Association.

This came after the Philippine Football Federation reconfigured its membership. The move was ratified during the PFF Board of Governors meeting over the weekend at Shangrila's Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

"PFF required them to transform themselves from provincial to regional because worldwide, they are called regional (FA's)," said PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes.

PFF is allowed to have 66 members, half of which will come from the regional association while the other half will be from the national club members, referee groups, women's football, beach soccer, coaches group, futsal and possibly the players group.

With that, everyone will already be represented and have equal footing in the PFF Board.

As such, CFA will now cease to exist while Bohol FA, which wanted to keep its identity, will also have to dissolve its group and abide by what FIFA says.

Siquijor, on the other hand, will be with Negros Oriental due to its strategic location even if it is under Central Visayas.

Half of PFF's member associations have already transformed themselves into a regional group.

"Central Visayas reconstituted itself. The Cebu-Bohol statutes have already been revised and approved. All we need  to do is hold a general assembly," said CFA president Ricky Dakay.

The Cebu and Bohol general assembly is set next month most likely in Cebu.  (FREEMAN)