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By: BIG JACK | PFF Presidential wannabes line-up for coming elections
Mindanaotoday.com | PFF Presidential wannabes line-up for coming elections
By: Jack Biantan
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will hold its next elections late this year, hopefully in October or November.
The country’s governing body of the beautiful game will hold elections to replace current President Nonong Araneta whose second term ends this year. Araneta was re-elected in 2019 in one of the most heated election in PFF history. PFF allows only two four-year terms for its president.
He bested Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) president Ricky Yanson Jr., 23-12, during the PFF 16th Congress set at Century Park Hotel in Manila in late November 2019.
PRESIDENTIAL WANNABES
As of the moment I have heard from the ‘Mariteses’ down here down South, that Davao-South Regional FA president Henry Sabate, and M’lang Cotabato Vice Mayor and PFF vice president Joselito Piñol plan to run for president, although nothing is confirmed yet.
I met just very recently two football fanatics who want to become president. Stallions FC part owner Filbert Alquiros announced during the National 45 and Above championship held in Iligan City that he is running and just waiting from an endorsement from PFF president Nonong Araneta.
I did not have a chance of talking to Alquiros of his plans for Philippine football. I was busy taking photos during the entire tournament. He invited me for dinner but I had to hurry up in going back to Cagayan de Oro as it was getting dark and getting late. I also forgot to get his contact number and FB account.
But who I was fascinated most is the former owner of Pachanga Diliman FC, John Anthony Gutierrez. The 46 year-old former
University of the Philippines varsity footballer was also present during that National 45 and Above Championship in Iligan but I missed him. He came very early and I was late.
John has already been going around to various FA’s all over the country to announce his intentions to run for president.
However, last Saturday for the first time I met John in Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon during the 17th Del Monte Football Cup. We had a lengthy talk. John is currently the General Secretary of the Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA) under president Jon Josef Manlunas.
He brought with him hundreds of footballs and gave them out to the winners.
His plans for Philippine football are impressive and lengthy. It will take an entire column to write about his program for Philippine football. I promise to write about his plans and programs next.
Base on the PFF website there are 36 current members of the PFF and each one of them are entitled to vote.
Kaya FC-Iloilo, Stallions FC and United City FC are club members which have voting powers. However, UCFC has disbanded and which current Philippine Football League (PFL) members will take its place is not yet known.
Now, there are 33 local FA’s which can vote and decide the future of the game we love in this country.
Here are the current local FA’s which have voting powers to put a brand new president in the PFF.
They are Agusan del Sur-Surigao del Sur RFA, Cordillera RFA, Bukidnon FA, Butuan-Agusan Del Norte FA, RFA of Camarines Norte, Camiguin-Misamis Oriental RFA, Central Visayas RFA, Golden Davao RFA, North Davao RFA, Davao-South RFA, Iligan Lanao del Norte-Lanao del Sur RFA, Iloilo FA, Laguna-Cavite RFA, Legaspi City-Albay Federated RFA, Eastern Visayas RFA, Federated FA of Masbate, Central Bicol RFA, and National Capital RFA.
Completing the FA’s are Negros Occidental FA, Negros Oriental-Siquijor RFA, Maguindanao-Cotabato City FA, Misamis Occidental Ozamis FA, Mount Apo RFA, Oriental Mindoro FA, Quezon-Batangas RFA, FA of Rizal, South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City RFA (SOCSARGEN RFA), Sultan Kudarat RFA, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands RFA, Central Luzon RFA, Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog RFA, Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur-Sibugay RFA, and Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi FA (ZAMBASULTA FA).
(jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)
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