THE “good news” for the Abellana National School football team and its coach Francis Ramirez disappeared after one day.
The one-year ban on the team, imposed after the squad and the coach joined the Philippine Olympic Festival tournament in Dumaguete City last June without informing the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7 officials was “lifted” last Thursday.
However, its back to a one-year rest from DepEd sanctioned meets for the whole team and the coach.
According to former councilor Joy Young, who is now the Cebu City Education Consultant, he was informed of the supposed lifting of the suspension after exchanging text messages with Mayor Tommy Osmena, who is currently in the US for his medical treatment.
Yesterday morning, Councilor Jack Jakosalem, the Chairman on the Councils Committee on Amusements Games and Sports said that he and Ricky Dakay, the football director for Cebu City, requested Mayor Osmena to lift the ban and let the
players play in the Cebu City Olympics, which starts today at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Request
The mayor granted Jakosalem’s and Dakay’s request and the news was relayed to the media just after lunch yesterday.
But when Young learned of the lifting last night from the mayor, the former councilor disagreed with the move. Young said he has already informed Jakosalem and Dakay about his decision last night.
“When it comes to educational matters, even if the mayor says yes, he always says ‘you have to finalize it with Joy Young
first,’” said Young.
Unfortunately for ANS and its coach, it’s Young’s word that is final and their one-year ban stays.
Message
“It will be like we will be taking back our own words if we lift the suspension. We will be just fooling ourselves,” said Young.
Though he sympathizes with the players’ plight, Young said they have to stick with their earlier decision to send a message.
“What will happen next time if we have to sanction somebody? They will say, dili na katuohan kay mausab ra,” said Young, who as a councilor helped start the Milo Little Olympics.
Since ANS players can’t suit up for the Cebu City Olympics, the qualifiers for the regional meet and eventually the Palarong Pambansa, they also can’t be picked to reinforced the Cebu City squad.
“I don’t care if we lose. It’s not always about winning. You join sports for physical fitness and values formation and one of these values is discipline. Bahala na mapildi, we have to discipline our athletes,” said Young.
Meanwhile, Acting Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama will grace the opening of the Cebu City Olympics today at CCSC. Today’s event will be highlighted by the selection of the Miss Cebu City Olympics. (ML)
