RP soccer teams strong enough for SEA Games – PFF officials

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) on Tuesday pressed for the inclusion of its men's and women's teams in the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Thailand this December, saying that both squads have strong prospects of getting medals in the biennial sporstfest. Marlon Maro, the national women's coach, was emphatic: "With the squad that we have, we see no reason why we can't bring home a medal from the SEA Games, given a chance to join the event." Maro was among those present at Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey's UN Avenue branch in Manila. With Maro were PFF president Johnny Romualdez and vice president Tony Chua. "The time is ripe for us to bring home a medal in the SEA Games," Romualdez said. "We should not be deprived of this chance in Thailand." Both squads failed to win a medal in the 2005 Games, although the women's team did manage to place fourth. That's why the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) Task Force was more inclined on dropping both team from the Philippine contingent. But Romualdez pointed out that Filipinos raised and trained abroad have joined both squads, thus making them more competitive with its regional neighbors. "Phil and James Younghusband have committed to return to the squad, while the three Hartmann siblings are also keen on suiting up for the country in Thailand," Romualdez said. "We also have other local and foreign prospects that we are eyeing to beef up the squad. As one of the vice presidents of the Asean Football Federation, it would be embarrassing for our country if we don't field a team to the SEA Games," Romualdez added. On the other hand, Maro noted that the fourth-place finish of the women's team in 2005 could have been a bronze had they not narrowly lost, 0-1, to Malaysia in the battle for third place. "Fil-Ams Angeline and Patrice Empelido and Miko Alley, who were the core of our team, are returning to play for us. We also have other prospects that will also help our squad," Maro said. Among them, he said, are Filipina-Australian Nenita Collantes-Burgess, a strong defender who saw action in the recent two friendly games with the Singapore national squad. He said two Filipina-Canadians – winger Michelle Young and midfielder Sheental Esperanza – are also trying out for the squad, along with Fil-Am defender Malorie Dayot. "We intend to offset our lack of finishing our attacks with the presence of these players," Maro said. Romualdez said that six months ago the PFF had thought of raising its own funds to bankroll both teams to the SEA Games, most of it from the savings it expected to get from the International Football Federation subsidy in building its new office building. "But with the appreciation of the peso, that option was wiped out," he said. "We can no longer fund our team to the SEA Games, this is why we are making our appeal public through this forum." The PFF chief also said that two POC officials identified with football were blocking the inclusion of both teams to the RP delegation, although he declined to give their names. "Kung di ngayon na malaki ang ating pag-asa mag-kamedalya sa SEA Games sa football, kailan pa tayo sasali?" Romualdez said. - GMANews.TV