A “CLERICAL error” rendered the weeks of tough and hard training by the Philippine Women’s Under 19 team, formed to represent the country in the Asian Football Confederation U 19 championships in Thailand this March.

The Philippine Football Federation missed the Aug. 31, 2005 deadline of submission of entries and had its final appeal denied by the AFC just yesterday.

According to a chronology of events leading to the fiasco sent by AFC Women’s Committee deputy chair, Cristy Ramos-Jalasco to Sun.Star, the women’s team was formed in September 2005, or days after the deadline passed and were still undergoing training until yesterday. The PFF sent their entry form last Jan. 3, which was promptly rejected by the AFC as it was passed the deadline.

The report also said that the PFF got the first invitation last Feb. 28 and another letter asking to confirm their participation on Aug. 12. Both invitations indicated the Aug. 31 deadline.

PFF president Johnny Romualdez told national papers that “it was a mistake by one of our staff. An apology has been made and we are still trying to join by contacting the highest levels at AFC.”

In an interview yesterday, Domeka Geramindi, PFF general-secretary told Sun.Star, “I have nothing more to add, I think our president (Johnny Romualdez) has said everything.” Asked to confirm it the PFF sticks to the “clerical error” reason, Geramindi said, “Yes, because that’s what really happened.”

Geramindi also said they were currently evaluating what to do with the team and will know by Friday what to do with girls, He also said he just got the fax from AFC rejecting their appeal to join the event and was set to inform the players after yesterday’s training.

For her part, Ramos said the one responsible for the mistake must be punished. “Heads must roll. It (AFC U19) is a major tournament, it serves as the Asia qualifier for the Fifa Word U20,” the former first daughter told Sun.Star.

Ramos also said that she checked the PFF secretariat if there was a letter of intent or entry form submitted to AFC before the Aug. 31 deadline and said, “No document was found, no official entry form. Regardless if it is a clerical (error) it is still the responsibility of the PFF.”

I’ll be posting some stuff tomorrow. Will have to wait till it comes out in the papers right?

hehehehe

As to the one I’ll post here, I’ll include some tidbits that was not in the report.

THE Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) will send a youth coach for a one week training in Fukushima Japan by the Japan Football Association (JFA) on March.

“The course involves theoretical and practical sessions, coaching practice
and written test. It is designed for coaches handling players in the “golden age”, U-12. JFA National Coaching Staff will conduct this course and successful participants will be given JFA “C” License,” CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said in an email to Sun.Star.

According to the CebuFa they will nominate the candidates to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and each candidate must “actively involved in the development within the CebuFA, can read and write in English and must be physically fit.

The PFF Technical Development committee will deliberate on the credentials of all nominees before forwarding them to the JFA. The JFA, which will shoulder the accommodation, meals and airport transfers, will just inform the PFF if the nominated coach can participate as slots in the seminar are limited.

According to Maximo, this is one benefits for coaches who choose to affiliate with CebuFA and the PFF.

Meanwhile, the University of San Jose Recoletos stumbled in its bid to join the national finals after losing its two matches in the PFF regional eliminations in Dumaguete City over the weekend.

USJ-R, which earned the right after both Hiroshi and Crazy Horse were barred from participating, lost to Dumaguete City, 4-1 in its first game and had to beat Bacolod City, by six goals in its second to advance to the nationals.

However, against Bacolod, who had Southeast Asian Games veteran Arnie Pasinabo in its lineup, they fell short, dropping a close, 1-0 match.

Division B W D L GD Points
Metropolitan FC 4 1 +36 12
Queen City FC 4 1 +28 12
Wild Cebu FC 4 1 +25 1
SRFC 4 1 +22 12
CSCST 1 4 -1 3
FC Inter Cebu 1 4 -24 3
FC Inter Lapu-Lapu 6 -86 0

IT was a day of blow outs in the Aboitiz League Div. B yesterday as two teams got buried by at least 15 goals as four teams scramble for the two slots to Div. A next season.

Wild eCebu started the rout with a 20-0 whipping of FC Inter Lapu-lapu and Metropolitan FC followed suit with a 17-2 win over FC Inter Cebu while San Roque FC scored a 5-1 win over Cebu State College of Science and Technology.

The three winners along with idle Queen City United now have identical 12 points on a 4-1 record. Only the top two teams in Div. B will be earn slots to Div. A. However, if Hiroshi pushes through with its boycott of all Cebu Football Association events, it could mean another team will get a spot.

With their rout yesterday, Metropolitan is now on top of the standings, just eight goals ahead of Queen City, while Wild Cebu is third with 25 goals, three ahead of San Roque FC.

On the other hand, FC Lapu-Lapu languished at the bottom with six losses and a staggering 86 goals conceded or almost 15 goals per game.

Rene Inoc scored five goals for Metropolitan yesterday, while Danilo Juesan had four and George Doromal had three.

Eddie Ybañez had five goals for Wilde Cebu while Ronald Canas had four and Pocholo Ryan Lanza scored three.

San Roque got its goals from Ramie Catrienen, Jovie Bordalba, Sheldon Colina, Romeo Bordardor and Eleazar Toledo while Romeo Justo scored the lone goal for CSCST.

Meanwhile, in the Red Ribbon 16 Under tournament, the favorites also scored easy routs in their first game.

Defending champion Paref Springdale blanked Cebu Inmaculada Concepcion, 7-0. while Hiroshi defeated Don Bosco Boys Home 2-0 and Don Bosco Technological Center routed FC Inter Cebu, 7-0.

Evanjames Mendoza scored a hat trick for Springdale in their easy win, while Francis Navaja and Miguel Subang scored both goals for Hiroshi and Bernard Francis Buot scored three for DBTC.

CEBU International School (CIS) stumbled in its quest to win the International Schools Athletic Conference (Isac) boys football crown as the injury-plagued team lost to Brent Baguio, 1-3, in yesterday morning’s semifinals.

Only nine players showed up for CIS at the start of the game, with the rest nursing various injuries.

“Grabe gyud tong three games namo yesterday (Saturday) and slide pa kaayo ang ground, na injured ako players, and worse, we had no substitutes,” CIS head coach Joshua Fegidero said.

Last Saturday, CIS played and won all its three games to finish second in the six team event behind European International School (EIS, with a 4-1 record. Their lone defeat was against EIS, 2-1 in their first game. Saturday’s steady downpour also rendered the grass muddy and slippery.

Among the players missing yesterday were Miguel Atienza, and defensive cog Peter Watson while Rafa Aboitiz played with an injury.

“Gamit si Peter sa depensa, while Rafa wasn’t really much of a factor in the game,” said Fegidero, a former RP team player.

In the semifinal, CIS found themselves trailing 3-0 in the first half and wasn’t able to string a few passes to be a threat offensively.

“Nau-nahan mi nila, so we played defensive already,” Fegidero said. Michael Sharpe managed to sneak a goal in the final 10 minutes of the game, but it was already too late for CIS as Brent Baguio went on to the finals, where they lost 1-5 to EIS.

“Sayang, kaya tani ang EIS,” Fegidero said.

CIS managed to salvage third place, winning 5-4 on shoot outs after Brent Subic bungled a shot. For the Isac meet, organizers decided the contest for third place be a shoot-out to save time as some of the players had to catch their planes back home.

After their boys team’s disappointment, the CIS girls will have their chance to make up for it when they play in the Isag girls football event in Baguio this March.

DESPITE horrible playing conditions, the Cebu International School (CIS) managed to sweep its three matches yesterday to finish second in the boys football event of the International Schools Athletic Conference (Isac) at the CIS

CIS finished second to European International School (EIS) with four wins against a loss, while Brent Subic and Brent Baguio took the next two spots. CIS will next face Baguio in today’s semifinals while EIS will face Subic.

Yesterday’s downpour turned the greenfield into a muddy plain, resulting to players colliding with each other as they slip.

“It was very slippery and I got four or five players injured because of that,” CIS coach Jun Fegidero said.

Though they are yet to face Baguio in the semifinals, Fegidero expects a rematch with EIS in the finals. They earlier lost to EIS, 2-1 in their first game. If they get to the finals, CIS and EIS will play two straight games today and though Fegidero is concerned about his injured players he remains optimistic.

“Kaya na ni, everything will change in the finals,” Fegidero said.

In its first game yesterday, Michael Sharpe scored the lone goal in its 1-0 win over Subic, but their offense got into high gear in their second match, defeating Brent Bagiou, 5-2.

After taking a 2-1 lead, Paolo Cases made it a two-goal cushion after converting a penalty after Andre Antigua got down while gutsy keeper Mike Ross also stopped a Bagiou striker on a one-on-one situation to preserve the count before the half.

In the second half, Sharpe tapped in perfect cross by Delvon Kim before Kim banged in the final goal of the match.

CIS was just as impressive in its final match, beating Southville, 8-2 to get the second spot.

Meanwhile, the CIS girl’s basketball team was not as lucky as it dropped its first four of its five matches to bow out of contention for the top spot. They lost to Brent Subic, Brent Bagiou, Mindanao Christian Academy and Southville while drawing its match against British School Manila. (photo by Allan Cuizon)

People, got this from an email

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

28 February 2005

Dato’ Peter Velappan, General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), writes a letter of invitation (Ref. No: WF-022) to participate in the AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2006 and also a letter of invitation to host this event (Ref. No: WF-023) to the general secretaries of 22 national football associations, including the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). The event is tentatively scheduled on 19-30 April 2006. The AFC faxes both letters to PFF on 28 February 2005.

The letters clearly state that the deadline for submission of entries is not later than 31 August 2005. Attached also are the official entry forms. At the bottom of the entry forms, again the deadline of submission of entries of not later than 31 August 2005 is indicated. The date is in all capital letters and is even underlined.

PFF President Johnny Romualdez acknowledges the receipt of the letters on 01 March with a marginal notation. PFF General Secretary Domeka Garamendi also acknowledges receipt of the letter with his initials, although no date of receipt is written beside his initials.

12 August 2005

Dato’ Paul Mony Samuel, AFC Deputy General Secretary, sends a letter to the national associations of the AFC (Fax No. 1889/CD/2005) to confirm the participation of their respective women’s U19 teams. Again, the letter states that the deadline for submission of entries is not later than 31 August 2005. PFF receives the letter on 12 August 2005.

Attached with the letter is the official entry form, where again the deadline for submission of entries of not later than 31 August 2005 is indicated and highlighted at the bottom of the page.

Romualdez acknowledges the receipt of the letter on 15 August with a marginal notation. Garamendi also acknowledges receipt of the letter with his initials, although no date of receipt is written beside his initials.

September 2005

The PFF president instructs the PFF Women’s Committee, chaired by Ms. Linda Schaefer, to take charge of the formation of the RP U19 women’s team, to include the selection of the coach and players and to oversee their needs.

The PFF appoints Joel Villarino as head coach of the RP U19 women’s team, Dodjie Locsin as assistant coach, and Pedro Cecilio, goalkeeping coach.

The PFF Women’s Committee proceeds with organizing the team. But the committee is unaware that the deadline set by the AFC is 31 August 2005 since no information had been given to the committee.

12 December 2005

Ms. Schaefer writes to the provincial football associations of Cagayan de Oro, Negros Occidental, Davao, Laguna, and others inviting their players to try out for the RP U19 women’s team on 17-23 December 2005 at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. PFF shoulders the transportation and lodging of the players for the duration of the try-outs.

Aside from Ms. Schaefer, Romualdez also signs the letters.

17-23 December 2005

The training camp proceeds as scheduled at the Philsports Complex, Pasig City. Thirty-eight (38) players try out for the RP U19 women’s team.

27 December 2005
Romualdez holds a meeting with the PFF Women’s Committee and RP U19 women’s team coaching staff to determine the final line-up of the team. The final line-up is not determined since some players are students from schools participating in the UAAP football tournament, and other former national players did not participate in the camp. Romualdez schedules another meeting at 10:00 a.m., 03 January 2006 to finally determine the composition of the team and to confirm the Philippines’ participation in the AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2006. He mentions that the deadline for the confirmation of entries is also on 03 January 2006.

03 January 2006

After the meeting with the Women’s Committee in the morning, the PFF writes to the AFC to confirm its participation in the AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2006.

The AFC apparently rejects the entry of the Philippines for missing the 31 August 2005 deadline. The PFF writes a letter of appeal to the AFC to reconsider their late entry. The PFF does not say anything about this situation either to the Women’s Committee or to the RP U19 women’s team.

17 January 2006

The PFF re-faxes to the AFC the letter of appeal it wrote on the 03 January 2006.

20 January 2006

The AFC sends a letter through the PFF to Ms. Cristina Ramos, deputy chairman of the AFC Women’s Committee, to inform her of the final fixtures of the AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2006. The letter indicates that Thailand is hosting Group 2 (ASEAN) with the host, Singapore, Myanmar, and Australia competing on 05-09 March 2006.

Ms. Ramos asks Ms. Jen Hernandez, PFF secretarial staff, why the Philippines in not included in the ASEAN group. Hernandez says that the AFC did not include the Philippines among the competitors.

Ms. Ramos talks to Garamendi regarding this situation. All he says is that “it won’t happen again.”

25 January 2006

Still not fully aware of the situation, Coach Joel Villarino continues with the team training. Under cold and rainy conditions, only five players attend training. Mr. Garamendi talks to the players and the coaching staff after the training to explain that the PFF is still trying to appeal to the AFC to reconsider the Philippine entry. He says that the PFF forgot to send the entry to the AFC on time.

WITH all the coup rumors flying around the country, there’s another rumor, but its not about ousting GMA, its about ousting the Cebu Football Association.

Three groups are apparently planning to create a new football association. Hmmm…interesting.

Interesting indeed. I wonder how will the CebuFA or Philippine Football Federation react to this.

Stay tuned.

The Philippines may miss the AFC U19 qualifications in Thailand, not because of a lack of preparation, or funds or team, but because the PFF forgot, yes they forgot, to submit an entry form.

Click this link.

http://news.inq7.net/sports/index.php?index=1&story_id=64270

Now, you’ve seen everything.

AFTER a sluggish start, the Cebu International School (CIS) finally showed its full strength with a 5-1 whipping of Mindanao Christian Academy (Mica) in the first day of the International School Athletic Conference (Isac) boys football at the CIS field.

In its first game, CIS lost 1-2, with Michael Sharpe scoring the lone goal, to European International School, before coming back in the afternoon match against.

“They had a tough time adjusting with the game, but in the second half and in the second game, they were already playing well,” CIS coach and former national team member Joshua Fegidero said.

CIS showed no sign of its early loss in its game against Mica, which earlier whipped Southville 5-1 as Sharpe connected with Jerry Lee in the first two minutes. However, Lee failed to hit the target. Lee got another chance when his shot richoceted off the keeper a few minutes later, but the ball hit the side bar.

In the 12th minute, Lee made sure his third try will count as he banged in a shot from left flank for their first goal of the match before Paolo Cases added another with a nifty move in the 17th. Cases chipped the ball over the defender then leftfooted it to the lower corner.

CIS, who is playing with Mike Ross at goal after Miguel Red dislocated a finger in the Thirsty Cup, scored two more goals in the half before Sharpe punctuated the match with a strike from midfield for its fifth goal.

CIS, which is aiming to win the football event, will play Brent Subic, Brent Baguio and Southville today and Fegidero will be more worried about fatigue than the opposition.

“I’ve seen the other teams, and I’m confident we can beat them,” Fegidero said.

To allow for multiple games in a day, Isac has modified the rules, allowing for a flying substitution and limiting the match to 30 minutes per half.

Meanwhile, their girls basketball team will also play four matches today, against British School Manila, Southville, Brent Manila and European International School.