THE Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA) is reminding its members not to join tournaments not sanctioned by the CRFA as this may lead to disciplinary actions.
This may seem like a high-handed approach to some but it actually makes sense. Football in the Philippines has the ideal setup since the National Sports Association–the Philippine Football Federation–indeed functions like a national sports association.
Unlike say in basketball or volleyball, whenever there are controversies, the NSA quickly washes its hands off, saying those tournaments are not under their purview. And believe me, I am being generous if I say five percent of all basketball or volleyball tournaments are sanctioned by the NSA.
But not in football, or to be specific, not in Cebu football. I think all tournaments are under the CRFA, save for the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. and the Cebu City Olympics. Though the two school-based tournaments are not supervised by the CRFA, it cooperates with the CRFA and a few years ago, the Cesafi even agreed to let only PFF licensed coaches coach their teams.
Which brings me back to the CRFA memo. I hope it’s just a case of an organizer not knowing better, instead of someone deliberately ignoring the CRFA.
I hope, too, that coaches and clubs learn to discern and join only tournaments that are under the CRFA. This is not to limit their exposure but to protect them.
Having events sanctioned by the CRFA means the CRFA refs can officiate in them or should there be any need for disciplinary action, it too can step in.
It also means a harmonized football calendar, something that is truly unique in Cebu.
So to football organizers, I hope you will have your events sanctioned by the CRFA. It actually helps your event.