By Mike Limpag | mike.limpag.com | Photo by the-afc.com
My former boss Jack Biantan had a pretty scathing article on the lack of grassroots development in the country, saying the PFF should just return the AFC Grassroots Silver Award it won for a grassroots program that he has trouble finding in google maps.
It’s the first time I heard of the award so I checked online what it was about. I was surprised that among the tournaments the AFC cited for the award were tournaments funded privately and inter school events. Among those mentioned was the Aboitiz Cup, which for me, is the country’s longest running and most-massive 11-a-side tournament. Should the PFF deserve credit for that?
Let’s present the facts first. The AboitizLand Football Cup–formerly known as the Aboitiz Cup–is funded by the Aboitiz Foundation but is run by the Central Visayas Football Association (formerly the Cebu Football Association) a member of the PFF.
For 2018, the period covered in the AFC award, it had the Mixed Under 7, 9 and 11, Boys 13, Boys 15, Boys 18, Girls 15, Girls 18, Men’s and Women’s Open, Inter-BPO Men’s, Inter-BPO women’s, Inter Company, 38-Above and 45-Above. Save for the 7, 9 and 11 age group divisions and the Inter BPO, all the rest are 11-a-side competitions.
Now, should the PFF get credit for this as part of their grassroots program?
I can’t speak of the other tournaments cited in the awards but as for the Aboitiz Cup, I know this: it wouldn’t be this big if not for the local FA’s involvement. They do everything–planning, scheduling, organizing and what have you, and that everything, of course, is part of their mandate as being a member of the PFF. I saw the CFA’s grassroots report a year ago, and the Aboitiz Cup was just a part of it. If that was included in the PFF achievement, I now understand why the AFC was impressed.
So yep, I think the PFF can list it under one of its achievements, in the same way that I feel proud whenever the CFA, now the CVFA, lists the SunStar Cup in its accomplishments reports.
We organize it. We fund it but the local FA plays a vital role, no. 1 of course that it is its players and coaches that are participating. Being included in the football calendar of the local FA is also a big help as it avoids conflicts.
I agree with Jack, grassroots is something the PFF hasn’t been paying much attention on. His comments with national youth teams selection is something I agree too. Save for our girls teams, our youth teams have been listening to Adele saying hello from the other side of 8-0, or 7-0 routs. But I don’t agree with the sentiment that the PFF has done squat.
So what exactly has the PFF been doing under Mariano Araneta for the past eight years?
Nothing? Not really. Let’s look at one aspect. The coaches. And they play a vital role in a grassroots program.
As of 2018—when the AFC gave the PFF the AFC Coaching Convention – A Level Membership—meaning its PFF A, B, and C level coaching courses are equivalent to the AFC A, B and C courses, we’ve seen a remarkable increase in the number of license holders.
PFF A—45
AFC Pro—3
PFF B—110
PFF C—596
PH Youth License—683
Grassroots Badge Holder—15,454
The jump in the number of A and B license holders is impressive.; they were a handful only in 2010. The gap between the C and the Youth License holders, for me, should be wider. Unless I’m wrong, these are the guys who would be taking the C license and for me, they should be at least double the C license holders.
But then again for every C seminar, there are only 25 to 30 slots and assuming everyone pass, so if the PFF conducts four C seminars a year, that’s 100 to 120 new coaches.
And it is in these seminars where the local FAs are needed. Cebu have had a handful in years and the participants outside Cebu always sing the same tune, “Swerte nyo bai, supportado kayo ng FA nyo.”
If we lack coaches for the grassroots, must the blame fall on the PFF alone? In Cebu, football has taken exponential growth because of the FA, the private sector and the community. And, yes, the PFF can take credit for that.
For 2019, there are 8 C License seminars scheduled, three in Mindanao. There are also two B seminars, in Mindanao and Luzon. So, I guess for me, it’s safe to say, when it comes to this aspect, the PFF hasn’t ignored Mindanao.
This doesn’t invalidate the concern about grassroots development in the country. I’m highlighting this to show that not everything is bleak and yes, the PFF, under Nonong Araneta, has made remarkable achievements. Like Jack, I back Nonong on principle and I think he’s still the right man for the job. I don’t get anything from this and in fact, I think I’ve only met Nonong once.
I’m not the AFC, so I can’t say why the PFF got the Silver Awards. But I can honestly say this, for what he has done, Nonong Araneta deserves four more years as PFF president.
P.S. For next year, the PFF is looking at a U17 national tournament and regional U16 and U18 tournament for girls. Why no U13? The PSC will take care of that and that’s a good move.
PHL youth football, no matter who wins the election, is set to have a good 2020.
