Asian football observer sees promise in RP soccer

Source: GMANEWS.TV






MANILA, Philippines – Philippine football has a lot of things going for it, which, if properly harnessed and handled, can enable the sport to take off in the country in the next few years, according to Brendon John Menton, Vision Asia coordinator of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

"We see a lot of positive elements in your football. All it needs is to come up with a organized development plan then put it into action. That’s what we’re here for," Menton said on Tuesday at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue branch in Manila.

Joining Menton in the session was Philippine Football Federation (PFF) secretary general Pablito Araneta.

Menton heads a five-man team that has been in Manila since Saturday to evaluate the needs of local soccer. The team will then come up with a strategic development plan in a month’s time to help upgrade the standards of the sport here.

"We are basically targeting five areas that we feel should be addressed first – administration, clubs and competitions, coaches and referees, and youth and grassroots sports development," Menton said.

He added that after their visit, they will return to the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to draw up a "football blueprint" for the Philippines that will be "practical, doable, and attainable."

"We in Vision Asia will not just come up with a plan," he said. "We will be actively involved with the PFF in implementing the program that we think will suit your country best. It may take three years, five years, but we intend to provide all the support needed in helping Philippine football get to where we want it to be."

AFC’s Vision Asia is a brainchild of AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam. It is geared towards following the direction of the International Football Federation (FIFA), the world governing body for the sport, in making clubs the centerpiece of promoting and popularizing the sport.

"I am pleased to note that there are embryonic clubs already set up," Menton said. "This is what FIFA wants – making clubs the center and catalyst of development. We in Vision Asia will help Philippine football to reach that goal."

Menton said he and his team witnessed the opening of the Filipino Premier League last Sunday, noting that this was one of the "positive things that we saw."

He cited the example of India, one of the earliest Asian countries to enroll in the program, which has now has a full-pledged national league with competitive clubs. 

"We helped India in setting up the league, which is now very successful," Menton said. "We hope we can do the same in your country."

For his part, Araneta said that having the Vision Asia people to help the federation "will enable us to set the proper direction for football in the country."

"We can now expect some concrete things to happen with the help of the AFC," Araneta said.

Aside from Manila, the Vision Asia team was set to fly to Cebu late on Tuesday to also evaluate football needs at the provincial level. The contingent will fly back to Kuala Lumpur late Friday. 

"Football development may appear slow," Menton said. "But we should not be upset about its progress. Because we believe, once the proper elements are there, then much can be attained."