Prieto, Alvarez honored in ‘Football Night’

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will honor Leo Prieto Sr., and Fernando Alvarez in their upcoming awards event called "Football Night."

The prestigious ‘Football Night’ will be held at the Manila Pavilion on April 3 wherein close to 600 guests are expected to grace the occasion.

Set as a fund-rasing affair, the PFF’s event aims to rekindle the love for the sport by tapping football enthusiasts, would-be sponsors, and supporters to help in making football popular in the country.

The event will also honor the " PFF Football Player of the Year" and present the association’s five-year development program. The induction of new set of officers of the PFF will also be held during the affair.

Prieto is better known in the sports world as the first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner. Previous to this, he was also known to the older generations as the coach of the famed many-time basketball commercial league champions, the YCO Athletic Club. He was a basketball and football player "par excellence."

Prieto was also the father of BOFA (Boys Football Association), probably the first meaningful grassroots development program in Philippine Football — or any sport, for that matter. In the 1960’s, Prieto established the nationwide BOFA, a program that for many years became the main source of the best national football players.

Alvarez will be honored with a special award on "International Achievements." Born in Manila in 1922, Alvarez was educated at De La Salle University, played football for San Beda in college and became captain of the National Team. "Nando," was the general secretary of the PFF in the 60’s and 70’s. Internationally, he was better known as a referee. In 1958, he was promoted to FIFA referee status officiating in 32 international matches from 1959 — 1973. In 1973, he was given a Special Referee Award by FIFA, at that time the only Asian referee to receive it and only one of eight in the world. He served as a member of the AFC Referees Committee from 1966-88. Alvarez was also a vice-president of the Asian Football Federation from 1978-88 and received the AFC Distinguished Service Award.

He migrated to the USA where he served as a member of the FIFA Referees Committee for 12 years.