Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Officials happy of football inclusion
By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
"WE ARE very happy with this development. What can we say?" expressed Jose Mari Mendezona, Negros Occidental Football Association (Nofa) secretary-general after the 10 SEAG member-countries preferred the inclusion of football in next year's Southeast Asian Games to be held in Manila.
The decision came after a caucus recently held also in Manila.
Earlier, reports disclosed football would not be among the events for the SEAG along with badminton and table tennis.
Mendezona hoped that the Philippine Football Federation will be able to prepare the national footballers, some of whom are Negrenses.
The Nofa executive also said it would be a great help for the local football community if the national team could undergo training in Bacolod City.
"If it happens, then the Nationals would look forward to tap our local booters as partners and it would gradually lift the competitiveness of our local teams," Mendezona said.
Also eyed for inclusion to complete the 2005 SEAG roster of events are shooting, badminton and volleyball along with sepak takraw, pencak silat, and canoe-kayak.
Recently, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella reiterated that football should not be taken out from the roster of events in the SEAG.
The Philippine Olympic Committee earlier approved an initial list of 22 sports for the 2005 SEAG while allowing other national Olympic committees to recommend eight more to complete the slots.
The 22 sports given events preference by the POC were athletics, aquatics, arnis, archery, wrestling, wushu, boxing, basketball, rowing/traditional boat race, triathlon, gymnastics, judo, fencing, taekwondo, golf, chess, bowling, baseball, softball, equestrian, dancesport and billiards.
Officials believe that the Philippines has strong chances of winning gold medals in most of those sports.
(March 1, 2004 issue)
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