Bleachers' Brew #234 The game of their lives Part 1 When two tribes go to war

This appears in the Tuesday November 16, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

The Game of their Lives

Part 1 When two tribes go to war

by rick olivares

The PFF (Philippine Football Federation) House of Football at 27 Danny Floro corner Captain Henry Javier in Barangay Oranbo, Pasig City is open five days a week from 8-5pm. Nowadays, its current President Jose Mari Martinez, is the first person at the office everyday at 7am. He is also almost always the last person to call it a day. Even if it’s way past closing time. “I’m a workaholic,” he shrugs pointing to the mountains of folders and paperwork that clutter his desk.

However, some view Martinez’ work ethic to being paranoid that he’d arrive at the PFF one morning only to discover his opponents in the local football scene claiming his office as their own.

Martinez scoffs at the notion and dismissed it to his enemies’ far-fetched imagination and schemes to derail his grand plans for the development of football. Today he is battling gout but that isn’t going to stop him from going to work. “There’s lots to be done,” he says with a passion that lights up his eyes despite the deepening bags beneath them.

He played for San Beda, La Salle, and for country. Now as the head of the country’s top football office, he knows he’s still got some game left in those tired bones of his. “I care for football in this country. I am constantly working for the betterment of football but there are just so many kingmakers out there who want the keys to the football kingdom. And I have many spies inside the office who report to my enemies.”

The comparison might be medieval but there’s a little truth to it.

If there is an insurrection in the making, the chief “kingmaker” Martinez inferred to is Mariano V. Araneta, the President of the Iloilo Football Association who has taken the lead to put a stop what he and many others believe to be anomalies inside the federation. Araneta brushes aside the allegations that he wants the position. “I’m fine where I am,” says Araneta who played for the University of the Philippines and the national team in the early 1980s. “But when there are questionable things going on, you have to point them out.”

Football officials have accused Martinez of illegally appointing one Mr. Henry L. Tsai as a bank signatory without necessary Board of Governors approval using a falsified, notarized Secretary’s Certificate. He also appointed Mr. Tsai as executive vice-president of the PFF last January 1, 2010. “It is a position that assumes the presidency in case of incapacitation of the incumbent,” noted Araneta who pointed to Article 15.3 of the PFF By-Laws that states “The President has the power to appoint all members of the Advisory Council and all officers of the PFF including the Executive Vice-President, and the Treasurer subject to concurrent approval or authorization from the Board of Governors. He may, with the concurrent approval of the Board of Governors, create any and all kinds of Committees he may deem necessary for the exercise of the functions of management, including appointment of the Chairman and members of these committees.”

Martinez, who survived a putsch in the first year of his presidency in 2008, is determined to hold on. “It was an honest mistake,” he admits of Tsai. “I had some papers made when Tsai performed well after I first got him but I forgot to let the BOG sign it. It was done in good faith. But I am determined to recover the money.”

“Tsai made his fortune in the different industries and when I bumped into him last year, I asked him if he can help Philippine football,” related the PFF president. You see it was only me and (federation treasurer) Bok Marty who were looking for money. If we don’t expand our horizons then we will not have money to spend. I sent 10 national teams abroad last year and my concern was for the young to get more experience. I really have to expand our operations in securing funds because the FAP money will only get you so far.”

“When I spoke with Henry, I asked if he could help football. He said he was retired and was into something else. One day he visited me in the office and inquired about what help I was asking for. I said, ‘Can you come up with PhP2 million to help the PFF and pay off its debts? You can rent the space downstairs for PhP 40,000 a month and open up a store to sell goods related to football.’ I also told him that I had a coach named Des Bulpin (who was handling the national team) and if he could use one of his condo units. He said he’d think about it and two weeks later he came back and agreed to help. Little did I know he’d stab me behind my back.”

The money sent by FIFA is supposed to be used for a national tournament, coaches and grassroots training, disbursement to the member associations for various projects, and quite a few more. The member football associations of the PFF claim that none of the FAP money has found its way into their intended recipients. Martinez cites the number of national teams sent abroad as proof of his expenditures. “It is obviously not enough but I am able to secure financial assistance from our friends around the region to help that’s why our national players and coaches can go abroad.”

Martinez’ critics point out that his claims are not reflected in the accounting as well as the inflows and outflows of the PFF accounts in BDO and BPI. As for the illegal disbursements to Tsai from the FAP funds, they are specifically not allowed as per FAP guidelines.  The monies given to Tsai totaling US $30,000 and PhP 1,640,000 were listed in the accounting ledgers as “investments”.

Current General Secretary Chito Manuel debunked the allegations of illegal investments by pointing out to the revised By-Laws of the PFF where in Article 2.8 in the chapter regarding “Purpose”, it is written that “To perform such other acts as may be necessary to attain the above purposes (organizing competitions), including but not limited to entering into contract with private and public institutions or individuals; encouraging and promoting the local manufacture of equipment and allied terms for the game; purchasing or otherwise acquiring any real property or interest for its benefit; lending or investing any money owned or held in its trust; raising funds or borrowing money; improving, developing, managing or mortgaging, letting or selling any of its real or personal property.”

“As far as I am concerned, I only tried to do this for the betterment of football,” explains Martinez. “If the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) says I am wrong then I am wrong. They will side with who is right. And they know that I am working to make the sport grow in the Philippines but to also regain our lost standing in international football.”

Last October 27, the Philippine Men’s Football National Team qualified for the Suzuki Cup Finals that will be played from December 2-8 in Hanoi, Vietnam. In the upcoming biennial meet, they will be up against the regional powerhouses like Singapore, Thailand, and Laos to name a few. But the biggest battle – actually for the future of Philippine football – will be waged in the boardroom a week before that when all the member associations arrive in Manila for the end of the year-end congress.

Martinez’ opponents hope to squeeze into the agenda the matter of his questionable activities and if possible, seed his removal by obtaining 2/3s of the assembled body’s vote.

“They can try but they have no case. No one cares for the sport like me.”