BARELY two weeks left before the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) elections on November 29, supporters of Nonong Araneta in the PFL are trying to squeeze into the PFF Congress and eventually earn voting privileges to vote for the incumbent president.
The office of the PFF General Secretary Edwin Gastanes has released the agenda of the 16th PFF ordinary Congress which will start at 10 a.m. on the 29th of this month at Century Park Hotel in Manila.
Among the agenda is the approval of the application of PFL Clubs allied to Araneta, the Stallion Laguna FC of Ernie Nierras, Kaya-Iloilo FC of Santi Araneta and Ceres Negros of Leo Rey Yanson.
It is but surprising why of the seven clubs in the PFL, only the three have applied to be members of the Congress. Where are Airforce FC, Mediola 1991 FC, Global Makati FC, and Green Archers United?
Of course, there is only one answer to this. Nonong’s camp is trying to squeeze in every vote that they could muster for the PFF elections later that day.
Nonong’s camp is already rattled and desperate that they want to secure every vote they could have from the voting Football Association presidents from all over the country.
Obviously, Nonong’s opponent will be Ricky Yanson Jr., whose “Football For All” grassroots slogan is gaining ground in the countrysides.
Of course, Nonong has claimed that he has the presidents of the FAs behind him during the Azkals match in Bacolod city against China last month.
What he doesn't know is that not all the presidents that showed up in Bacolod were behind him. Most of them were secretly talking with Ricky’s camp and were just enjoying an all- expense paid vacation in the ‘City of Smiles’.
Now the question is... will the PFF Congress allow these team memberships to their elite voting members?
This move to put the application of the three PFL members as members of the PFF Congress has been orchestrated definitely by only one person who wants to keep his job in the PFF at all cost.
Football insiders know who this is. Will the FA presidents allow this? Abangan.
(l.biantan@gmial.com)