THERE’S going to be a crucial election in a few weeks—no, I’m not talking about the mid-term elections that has a few clowns running—but that of the local football association.
If things go as planned there will be a new set of officers on March 2. The Central Visayas Regional Football Association, formerly the Cebu Football Association, will have its first election on that day with a reported 15 personalities running for the board.
What is interesting is that this year, according to Allan Medalla, those who can vote aren’t only the clubs but also the organizers. That means this year, instead of just watching the proceedings, I get to vote as the organizer of the annual SunStar Football Cup.
It’s good that I get to be involved because choosing the next set of officers is crucial for local football. We don’t want to get back to the time when those involved were only after their own interest. We need officers who can continue what the present board has started. Or it doesn’t even have to be that way. What we need are officers of the same mold, inclusive not exclusive. Open to ideas and not vindictive and most of all, transparent when it comes to financial matters.
I think we will know who are those who will be running in the next few days as the local FA is finalizing the details of the election.
Yes, this has been delayed for quite some time but I’d rather have this delay--and extend the current board’s term--than have a haphazard electoral process that would undermine the growth of local football.
The election, too, is the chance for those who’ve been mouthing off a lot in the past few years to have their say in the community. Whether the community accepts them or not is a different reason.
So I hope the clubs and schools who have a say in this year’s election will make their choices carefully. Consider the background of those running and their track record. The football community is a small one, ask yourself, “Why is he or she running? Are they after the sport’s welfare or something else?”
There’s an easy way to compare them. Just look at them and see if they can do—or even better outdo—what the present board has done. If the answer is yes, then he or she deserves your vote.