MANILA, Philippines - Whatever the costs and whatever it takes, football officials the other day pleaded for the inclusion of their athletes in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar and vowed they would make their country proud if given the chance to see action.
“The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will do whatever it takes to send our teams to Myanmar. If it is P12 million then let it be 12 million,†said national teams committee chairman Dan Palami during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
“This is why the PFF, with the help of private sector, is willing to spend as much because we believe that our teams have strong chances of winning gold medals,†added Palami in the session where he was joined by national women’s team coach Ernie Nierras and PFF media relations chief Ebong Joson.
While not making any formal announcements, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission have strongly hinted of scrapping football from the national team contingent, considering the cost of sending nearly 80 athletes and officials for the sport in the SEA Games set Dec. 11-22.
The PFF wants to field the national Under-23 squad in the men’s competition, national women’s squad, popularly known as the Malditas, and the men’s futstal team to the regional meet.
Palami pointed out the PFF had already addressed the funding concerns of the soccer delegation, a fact which Joson assured in the program sponsored by Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp.