Finally, Brazil meets France again. Eight years ago, I saw Les Bleus blank Samba, 3-0, to win their first World Cup.

It’s payback time.

Go Brazil!

*Just a little note, I asked Maxi, who these three members are and whether they are allied with Romualdez.

He said, “Next question please.”

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has set up an internal audit team to address the issues raised by the National Capitol Region regarding its business transactions.

In a memo sent to the 28 football associations in the country, PFF president Johnny Romualdez appointed Neil Frazer, president of the Misamis-Ozamiz Football Association; Pastor Merced, president of the Negros Oriental Football Association; and Apolonio Clemente Jr., president of the Butuan-Agusan Football Association to the audit team.

Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo said those with questions regarding the PFF finances may address their concerns to the three members.

“Among the concerns they are to address are how the FIFA funds are spent, the administrative expenses, who receives what salary and allowances. This is also to help dispel any doubts on the correctness and veracity of the financial report submitted during the Board of Governors Meeting last February,” said Maximo.

The PFF received P14.3 million from FIFA, P3.6 million from the Asian Football Confederation, and P6.5 million from the Asean Football Federation, as well as the P13 million it is set to receive from other sources, for its P38 million budget this year.

However, the PFF is projected to spend almost all of the money, including P5 million for administration.

The National Capitol Region Football Association earlier asked the PFF to allow its team of auditors and lawyers to look into its business transactions. The PFF denied the request.

Friday night, 11 p.m.
Germany vs Argentina.
World Cup Quarterfinals.
Folks, this is a re-match (sort of) of the 1990 finals, which then West Germany won, 1-0.
Who will win this time?
See you at Badgers.

AFTER failing to make it to the semifinal round of this year’s National Women’s Under-17, the Cebu Football Association is preparing early for next year’s U17 championships as it plans to field an Under-17 training pool in the Aboitiz Women’s Open set to start on July 9.

“This for anyone who is interested to join the Under-17, the players doesn’t necessarily have to be those who played in the nationals,” said Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo.

To qualify for the training pool, players must be born on 1991 or earlier.

The moves mirrors that of the Davao Football Association, which has topped the Ladies Open and Under-19 for the past two years. They regularly field their Under-19 squad in their Ladies’ Open, and their Ladies’ Open team also plays in their Men’s Division B.

Maximo recently met with representatives of the Ladies team and has set the deadline for the submission of entries on July 1.

“We expect six to eight teams and we have scheduled the opening at San Roque parish,” said Maximo.

Queen City United is again expected to return to defend its crown, while the University of the Philippines, San Roque FC, Mulbachs and the University of San Carlos are also expected to field teams.

Meanwhile, Maximo is also considering moving the venue from San Roque to either the Cebu City Sports Center or at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field in Ayala.

“We have to bring football where the crowd is, and we are studying plans to do that. Now we have to play it in San Roque because we have to start the tournament as soon as possible,” said Maximo.

The champion in the Aboitiz Women’s Open will represent the city in the Philippine Football Federation National Women’s Open in Dumague City on August.

AFTER failing to make it to the semifinal round of this year’s National Women’s Under-17, the Cebu Football Association is preparing early for next year’s U17 championships as it plans to field an Under-17 training pool in the Aboitiz Women’s Open set to start on July 9.

“This for anyone who is interested to join the Under-17, the players doesn’t necessarily have to be those who played in the nationals,” said Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo.

To qualify for the training pool, players must be born on 1991 or earlier.

The moves mirrors that of the Davao Football Association, which has topped the Ladies Open and Under-19 for the past two years. They regularly field their Under-19 squad in their Ladies’ Open, and their Ladies’ Open team also plays in their Men’s Division B.

Maximo recently met with representatives of the Ladies team and has set the deadline for the submission of entries on July 1.

“We expect six to eight teams and we have scheduled the opening at San Roque parish,” said Maximo.

Queen City United is again expected to return to defend its crown, while the University of the Philippines, San Roque FC, Mulbachs and the University of San Carlos are also expected to field teams.

Meanwhile, Maximo is also considering moving the venue from San Roque to either the Cebu City Sports Center or at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field in Ayala.

“We have to bring football where the crowd is, and we are studying plans to do that. Now we have to play it in San Roque because we have to start the tournament as soon as possible,” said Maximo.

The champion in the Aboitiz Women’s Open will represent the city in the Philippine Football Federation National Women’s Open in Dumague City on August.

There are 28 FA presidents, members and associate members of the PFF.

Where are they now?

A few words from them, whether they support the latest challenge to the PFF leadership, or not, would have been fine.

But, as football leaders are often in these country, they are strangely silent.

In the meantime, the fans, yes the people who they are supposed to serve, are wondering where they can catch the next World Cup game, since the 28 presidents never had it in them to try and convince Solar to carry the games live for free.

Adios country ranked number 192.

Badminton anyone?

Guys, I’ve been checking the philfootball.info forum, which just got back on line, it says bandwidth exceeded. (An explaination would be nice for this internet dork) I’ve also just tried to get into the pinoysoccer.com site, but it says, this account has been suspended.

What gives?

FOR the seven players who were meted out one to two years suspensions by the Cebu Football Association, their sentence won’t be affected by the latest fiasco the Philippine Football Federation is in.

The PFF certificate of registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission was revoked last Nov 3, 2003, and this was discovered last May only.

As a result, the PFF’s legitimacy and the legality of its actions since the Nov 30, 2003, were questioned.

However, this doesnt hold true for the Cebu Football Assocation.

“We are a separate entity, we are only affiliated with the PFF and besides we are also SEC registered,” Maximo said.

THE National Capitol Region Football Association has asked Philippine Football Federation president Juan Miguel Romualdez to “cease and desist from discharging his functions” after the PFF’s certificate of registration was revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The PFF’s registration was revoked last Nov. 3, 2003 yet but this was found out only last May. The PFF Board of Governor met last week to address the issue, while the Philippine Olympic Committee has asked former PFF president Rene Adad to help in having the registration reinstated.

The NCRFA argued in its letter to Romualdez, a copy of which was faxed to Sun.Star Cebu, “You and your cohorts are discharging functions and duties pertaining to validly and duly elected officers of a corporation, making it appear that you are possessed of such powers, when in truth and in fact, you have none.”

The letter asks Romualdez to “cease and desist from performing and discharging acts in violation of Section 122 of the corporation code and to turn over the reign of the PFF to Adad.”

Asked for his reaction, Romualdez said, “No comment, I have consulted this with my lawyer.”

The NCRFA also argued that the person best suited to deal with the issue of the SEC registration is Adad.

“You will recall that Mr. Adad was not only the president prior to the revocation, but a member of the Board of Governors as well,” the NCRFA letter, signed by its corporate secretary and counsel, Rommel A. Frias.

In an earlier interview, Adad said he is willing to help the PFF with the issue and also said they are not concerned with issues on the current official’s legitimacy but are more focused on having the SEC registration re-instated.

The NCRFA also asked the PFF “to extend courtesy to our representatives whom we will send to PFF’s principal office on Friday at 9 a.m. to inspect, examine and copy the records of business transactions, including, but not limited to the financial, operational and marketing activities of PFF.”

10 p.m. Ecuador vs Germany
10 p.m. Costa Rica vs Poland
June 21
3 a.m. Sweden vs. England
3 a.m. Trinidad vs. Paraguay