PRESUMPTIVE Philippine Football Federation third vice president Rodney Orale said creating a Visayas League is one of his major goals once he officially assumes office.
Orale, who is also the president of the Central Visayas Regional Football Association, is the lone candidate in the election after the other nominee Mariano Araneta has declined to run. The election and the 21st Ordinary Congress will be held on July 27 in Siargao.
“I am very happy and grateful that Sir Nonong decided not to run. I have very big shoes to fill but I am ready to face the challenge,” said Orale.
Orale said he hopes to work with Nonong, the former PFF president and current head of Iloilo Guimaras RFA, for the creation of the Visayas League, which has been the dream of stakeholders in the region for a long time.
A Visayas League involving teams from Central Visayas, Negros Island Region and Iloilo is feasible logistically and financially and some clubs have had initial talks about it.
With Orale and Araneta getting on board the plan, the league could possibly get the green light from the PFF.
Aside from that, another of Orale’s immediate plan is to help in the creation of two additional Regional Football Associations–the Bohol RFA and the Samar RFA.
Bohol football has been rocked by factionalism over the years and a new RFA could breath new life to the province.
Orale also hopes to supervise the PFF programs in the Visaayas, such as the Football Starts at Home and the Fifa Football for school program by president John Gutierrez.
The amiable CVFA president, who also served as the tournament director for football in the just concluded Palarong Pambansa, also hopes to work at making elementary girls futsal and secondary girls football as regular events in the Palaro. The two sports were demo events in this year’s Palaro.
“I also want to promote beach soccer in the Visayas area, specifically in Cebu, Iloilo, Eastern Samar and Bohol,” said Orale.
Orale is also hoping Cebu City could be picked as one of the venues for the first Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup in 2025 and is hoping to work with Cebu City Sports Commission chairman John Pages to make it happen.