Re-elected PFF prexy to go down to the grassroots

MANILA, Philippines - Given a fresh mandate, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta listed down as priorities grassroots projects and the different national teams other than the Azkals, especially the vastly improved Malditas, for his new term.

“The grassoots and the national teams, we’ll concentrate on these items,” Araneta said after emerging from yesterday’s PFF Congress in Pasig with a fresh four-year mandate.

Araneta, who took over as PFF chief a year ago following the ouster of former president Mari Martinez, ran unopposed and was elected unanimously by 32 regional presidents or their representatives present in the Congress.

Elected to the board of governors were Roland Tulay, Leopoldo Arnaiz, Diobe Arellano, and Mario Garovillo for Luzon; Carlos Cojuangco, Dick Emperado, Richard Montayre, and Azkals manager Dan Palami for Visayas; and Ramon Manlunas, Cabili Sinsuat, Abenio Labja and Falaviano Fucoy for Mindanao.

“The most important is the grassroots program. We have a goal which is (qualifying for) the under-17 World Youth Championship eight years from now. We have to know the steps on how to do and achieve that, with the help of the German Football Federation, Japan Football Federation and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation),” he said.

Araneta said the PFF will take advantage of the financial assistance programs of the Fifa, AFC and private sponsors for its grassroots programs, including national Under-23, national club, and regional U-17 and U-15 tournaments.

Also to be tapped is a development program Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al Hussein is set to launch in the Philippines in January.

“He will supply equipment for football festivals – balls, cones, collapsible goals, net. This relieves the federation of funding that we can realign to other things so that’s a big help,” said Araneta.

The Philippine Malditas, who returned from years of inactivity in the AFF Women’s Championship in Laos recently, can also be assured of more funding and exposure.

“Our women’s team has improved tremendously as shown by the Laos tournament. They will join a tournament in Qatar and an AFF women’s tournament next year and we’ll provide them with more exposure,” the PFF chief said.

“Before, the women’s team was not getting their share of FAP (Financial Assistance Program) funds (from the international bodies); now we’re giving it to them so that funding will really help them also,” he said.

Fifa and AFC representatives attended the PFF proceedings with AFC acting president Zhang Jilong opening the Congress. AFC administrator Mun Si Song observed the elections as did Fifa development officer for Southeast Asia Domeka Garamendi and Fifa development officer for Asia-Pacific David Borja.