"We’re at the bottom of the heap. And we cannot do worse that this. From hereon, the only way is up," said the ageless Florencio Campomanes during yesterday’s PSA Forum.
Campomanes, who celebrates his 79th birthday today, said the National Chess Federation would need to do a better job so the country can save its face in the international arena.
Philippines chess, Campomanes said, was at its worst during last year’s SEA Games where it failed to win a single gold medal, and allowed Vietnam to nail eight.
"If we cannot win in the SEA Games, how do you expect to win in the Asian Games? But let us not recriminate. Let’s see what we can do," said Campomanes.
Campomanes said no serious training was undertaken despite a generous grant of P5 million from the First Gentleman Foundation.
"Instead, the NCFP policy was to send players abroad. A bunch of players were sent to Europe but not in high quality tournaments needed to sharpen their skills for the SEA Games."
Campomanes reminded everyone that this year, the Philippines is celebrating its 50th year of participation in international chess, starting with the 1956 Chess Olympiad in Moscow where he was part of the RP team.
"And where are we now? Again, I don’t have to confirm that. You all know that too well. RP chess should straighten up if it wishes to be counted again as a chess power," he said.
Campomanes said reforms should begin with the NCFP elections which Go Teng Kok, its president, had called for on March 11.
Go is also president of the RP track and field association, and Campomanes said it’s never easy to do two things at the same time.
"If he cannot be 100 percent hands-on with chess, then at least he should be 99 percent with chess. You cannot run chess the way you run track and field," he added.
"Anybody can be a good president as long as you make the right moves. And you can do a bad job, too. It’s just that some people have elected to do a bad job."
In reaction, Go repeated that he is no longer seeking re-election as NCFP president, and that all he wants is a smooth turnover to whoever will succeed him.
"I personally believe that no one should head two associations at the same time. That’s why I’m no longer running in the coming elections. Not even for director," said Go.
Go, probably the most controversial figure in Philippine sports, said Campomanes has no right to question the way he juggled track and field and chess. "I’m good at track and field and I’m doing my best for chess. How about Campomanes? What does he know about track and field?" said Go.
Campomanes, however, is still hoping for the best. "Nothing is so bad that no good can come out of it. The SEA Games is a disaster. But it’s also our wake-up call. Let this be a signal for a new beginning," he said.