Futsal issue still unresolved

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is hosting the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on Nov. 21-Dec. 7 but an unresolved issue regarding the national coach threatens to throw a monkey wrench into preparations for the staging of the 16-team competition.

The problem began when PFF president John Gutierrez informed national futsal coach Vic Hermans that he has been terminated as women’s coach but retained as men’s coach in a letter dated last Dec. 23. Gutierrez said the decision was reached after evaluation and deliberation by the PFF Technical Department and National Team Committee.

Hermans, 71, was out of the country on a holiday break in his native Netherlands when the letter was released. Three days later, PFF conducted tryouts for the women’s team at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. A new Spanish coach was reportedly brought in to conduct the late stages of the tryouts that ended last Dec. 30.

National women’s futsal team manager Danny Moran said he has requested PFF to reconsider Hermans’ termination but so far, no reply. “The PFF approved coach Hermans’ designation last September,” said Moran who chairs the Henry Moran Foundation, chief supporter of futsal in the country over the past 10 years. “Coach Hermans has been with our program the past three years but with the World Cup coming, we worked out a new contract up to December 2025 or until the end of the World Cup cycle. We continue to recognize coach Hermans as our women’s coach until such time that PFF is able to justify his termination with due process. I’m sure FIFA will stand by coach Hermans’ live contract. The decision seems to be unilateral and in the spirit of fairness, we’d like to find out the basis of the decision. The recent results of our women’s team prove coach Hermans’ ability to move us forward.”

Two Fil-foreigners in coach Hermans’ lineup are included in the roster of a newly-configured squad representing the Philippines at the AFC World Cup qualifiers in Uzbekistan on Jan. 11-19. Moran said when the team returns, he intends to call for open tryouts on Jan. 30-31.

“We understand PFF intends to form a new national team made up of nine or 10 new players along with five or four of coach Hermans’ players,” said Moran. “The core of coach Hermans’ team comes from less privileged families and sacrificed a lot to become the country’s best futsal players. We’re open to reinforce the squad with Fil-foreigners and football players but we owe it to coach Hermans’ home-grown players to give them a chance. Right now, our plans are to hold the World Cup games at PhilSports Arena and maybe, in Bacolod. We’re hoping to end this disconnect with PFF soon so we can go on preparing to host the World Cup.”