(This is my Fair Play column for SunStar Cebu’s Aug. 29 edition)
A few years ago, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) decided to rationalize its member associations (MAs) and merge them into regional FAs. Among those affected was the Bohol Football Association (BFA), which was placed under the Central Visayas Football Association, formerly the Cebu Football Association.
PFF president Nonong Araneta, who knows the character of the heads of the MAs should have expected there will be some resistance.
After trying since 2019 to placate the BFA, the CVFA is not only still facing resistance, remnants of the BFA is openly defying the organization, urging its members to boycott CVFA events. And it’s also openly defying the PFF, giving its own coaching certificates in the name of the PFF as a way to urge its members to stay under its wing and not join the CVFA.
These actions, I think, merit a personal response from PFF president Nonong Araneta himself. Nonong knows what the CVFA has done in the past few years and how the hosting of the DepEd Palarong Pambansa Football Bubble opened a communication line between the PFF and the Department of Education.
The least he could do is encourage the BFA and all the football clubs in Bohol to recognize the authority of the CVFA as the regional FA for Central Visayas. It’s not necessary, I know, but if you have an organization that calls itself the only recognized association by the PFF for Bohol, that calls for a correction from the PFF, which no longer has the BFA in its list of member associations.
As for the CVFA, how should it deal with the BFA? Well, how does one deal with a petulant child who throws tantrums?
It shouldn’t let the actions of a few affect its plans and programs for Bohol, which is to bring tournaments to different towns. Its tournaments and seminars should always be open for the BFA but it should stop bending backward to accommodate the troublesome group. If they want to join, good, but if not, move on with the program.
Besides, based on what I’ve been told after writing about how a typo error led a BFA faction to boycott its events, having no BFA in its events and seminars may be good for Bohol football. Imagine, having intoxicated referees and coaches in tournaments?
I know refs, players and coaches love to wind down but the sane and professional ones are disciplined enough to do it after their games or final whistle, not before it. That is simply unprofessional.
Archie Reyes, CVFA referees committee chairman, told me that during one of his seminars in Bohol, one participant, who just came from officiating an event, was drunk. It’s a misconduct worthy of a lengthy suspension had the PFF learned of that.
I also told a member of the Sagbayan FC, the only club that has paid its CVFA dues, don’t play the BFA’s game. Join its events if it’s open to you, and welcome the group to your events.
The CVFA has long planned to put Bohol in charge of beach soccer in the region and based on their conduct the guys behind Sagbayan are the leading candidates for the position, not BFA.
As for Nonong, I’ll be waiting for his letter to Bohol.
