ITALY may have emerged from Germany as the winner of the 2006 World Cup, but besides the 32 countries that figured in the quadrennial event, the nonparticipating countries like the Philippines have turned up like champions as well.

The financial windfall from the vastly successful World Cup has reached Philippine shores in the form of a financial donation for what will be the new Philippine Football Federation (PFF) headquarters located at the corner of Danny Floro and Javier Streets in Pasig City.

A simple groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday at the new site with Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) Windsor John, the FIFA development officer for Southeast Asia, and PFF president Johnny Romualdez in attendance. Also present were the PFF’s secretargeneral Pablito Araneta and PR officer Ed Formoso.

According to John, FIFA is providing $420,000 (P19.4 million) for the new office that was designed by architect Red Avelino and should cover the purchase of the property and the furnishings that come along with it. 

“The Philippines was chosen to be one of the recipients for the GOAL Project which is the creation of technical centers or headquarters where the PFF can effectively run its operations,” explained John. “Not every country is given financial assistance and FIFA would like to see the further development of football in the Philippines. I think that the strong showing by the Philippine national team in last year’s Asean Cup qualifiers and the finals is an indication that the sport does have growth and potential.”

The amount is in addition to the $250,000 (P11.5 million) that is given every year to the local football-governing bodies for operations, training and development.

Romualdez said that the new headquarters should be finished by November in time for the PFF’s Centenary Anniversary that will be graced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

“That will be huge boost for our football scene for the FIFA president to make an appearance here. You can say it’s like a stamp of approval on our direction,” he said.

“Football has been a high-profile sport in the Philippines lately,” beamed the proud and happy PFF president. “The new headquarters will help instill some pride in the way we do things and should give us a nice push into our operations in the next couple of years. This will be the new center of football and social activity.”

The PFF’s new secretary-general, Pablito Araneta, also took the occasion to announce that a semiprofessional football league is in the works and should kick off in a year or two.

“We are consulting the various football associations inquiring about the tournaments they run and how a league will fit into the current infrastructure,” said Araneta.

“Hopefully, this will be successful and give the grassroots program a boost,” he added. “Filipinos are talented and have proven themselves in international competitions from the age of 14 and under. But in the absence of a higher level to aspire for, they tend to move to other sports by the time they reach the college level.”

Araneta also expressed confidence in the RP men’s side’s chances in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games as well as hurdling the Asean Cup Qualifiers for the finals two years from now.

The most recent beneficiary of the GOAL Project from Southeast Asia was Malaysia just last May.

Eliminate the advantage

MEANWHILE in Kuala Lumpur, China coach Zhu Guanghu plans to spring some surprises to counter the expected heat and Malaysia’s home-ground advantage in their opening Asian Cup clash on Tuesday.

Malaysia is the lowest ranked of the 16 teams in the region’s flagship soccer tournament, but is desperate not to lose face in front of thousands of supporters who are expected to throng the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Zhu acknowledged that Malaysia has the benefit of being more familiar with playing in Southeast Asia’s hot, humid climate, and to counter that his team would have to adapt its game plan.

“We may play a different style to try to win the game,” Zhu told reporters Monday. “We know that the opening match would be very difficult, especially when we play against the host. But we will try our best to conquer all the difficulties.”

Zhu said Malaysia had improved a lot recently, and noted that rival coach, Norizan Bakar, had attempted to broaden his squad’s depth by recruiting taller players.

FIFA chief comes to RP

ITALY may have emerged from Germany as the winner of the 2006 World Cup, but besides the 32 countries that figured in the quadrennial event, the nonparticipating countries like the Philippines have turned up like champions as well.

Zapped by the Kazakhs

TAIPEI—San Miguel-Team Pilipinas closed out its campaign on a sorry note as it lost to tail-ender Kazakhstan, 107-90, in the 29th William Jones Cup men’s basketball tournament at the Hsinchuang Stadium.

PAGCOR to the rescue once again?

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) certainly hopes so, after chairman William Ramirez disclosed yesterday that the government agency intends to borrow P100 million from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to finance the country’s campaign in the 24th Southeast Asian Games this December.

DETHRONED International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia is eyeing a rematch with Florante Condes this December in Indonesia.

YES, you’ve heard how many coaches used movies to motivate players. In fact, it is one of the many effective tools to coax a player to perform by eliciting the emotional high needed to complete the task laid out before them.