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VISION
Asia has formulated two goals for the
Philippines—modernize the administration, development
activities and competitions of the Philippine Football
Federation (PFF), and develop football in Cebu as a
pilot project for 31 other provinces to emulate.
Vision
Asia director Brendan Menton made the recommendations
after visiting the country, particularly Manila and
Cebu, to assess the football situation in the country.
“We now
have a very good understanding of football at the
national level in the Philippines and in Cebu province,”
said Menton in an interview from Kuala Lumpur posted at
the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) web site.
“I am
very optimistic about Vision Philippines. There is a lot
of enthusiasm within the PFF and Cebu Football
Association (CFA) to develop their football further,”
Menton added.
Vision
Asia will formulate a strategic development plan by the
end of November where the PFF and the CFA will make a
feedback. The plan will be finalized with Vision
Philippines to take off early next year.
“The
assessment visit to the Philippines went very well. The
meetings, field visits and ceremonies were well
organized by PFF and CFA,” said Menton.
PFF and
CFA expressed enthusiasm with the plans of Vision Asia.
“PFF has
the responsibility to ensure that Vision Philippines is
successful,” said PFF president Jose Mari Martinez.
“We
promise to do our best to implement the Vision
Philippines program,” said Richard Montayre, president
of the CFA. “Our football association has been meeting
every day. After seeing all the AFC Vision Asia
recommendations for us, now we have to meet even more
often.”
The
Philippines became the 11th country to be a part of the
Vision Asia program by the Asian Football Confederation
tasked to help evaluate the football situation in the
country and help develop in all levels from playing
fields, programs and administration.
Other
countries in the program are China, Bangladesh,
Indonesia and India. |
