WHAT I 'D RATHER SEE WITH THE AZKALS

Once again there is much fuss over nothing with the Azkals. Hardcore fans of the team are in high spirits as the Azkals have a chance to win the AFC Challenge Cup. The AFC Challenge Cup is a stepping stone for the Asian Cup which boasts of 15 more highly-ranked FIFA teams in Asia. Nations like Japan and South Korea, both of which qualified for the World Cup in Brazil, are competing in the Asian Cup.

Considering that the Azkals are made up mostly of Fil-foreigners, it is rather disappointing that the team could only offer a championship in the Challenge Cup. Homegrown full-blooded Filipinos have virtually been relegated to the sidelines. Yet, success for the team remains minimal.

I have always been critical of the Azkals following my reports on Amanda Coling and Cristy Ramos. While the spin doctors of the team try to make people forget, I, with a few others, will never forget.

Interestingly, I heard that an Azkal suddenly left the team to play for his mother team in Europe. This just shows everyone where the loyalty of these players lie. They would rather play for their mother ball clubs in Europe than play for the Philippines.

Thus, what I'd rather see are Azkals who are mighty loyal to the country. Given a choice between playing for unknown clubs in Europe or serving the Philippine team, I wish to see Azkals choosing to play for the country resolutely. I certainly believe that homegrown full-blooded Filipinos must be given more slots to the team to raise the team's sense of nationalism. Nationalism must rule over convenience and commercialism in a sport such as football.

THE PDBF TEAM AND WORLD CUP : A DATE WITH HISTORY

The first World Cup for dragon boat will take place in Fuzhou, China from June 9-12, 2014. Fifteen of the best dragon boat teams in the world will compete. The Philippines, by virtue of its great performances in world championships, qualified and will compete in the biggest event for dragon boat.

Unfortunately, the PDBF team will once again not have government support as it competes. The team is not recognized by both the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission. The irrelevance and utter stupidity of POC and PSC officials are shamelessly flaunted as these officials refuse to acknowledge and help the team.

Fortunately, the team is used to hardships. Members of the team, in the not-so-distant past, slept in cemeteries abroad just to be able to participate and compete. Even without government support, the PDBF team will surely overcome the odds to bring pride and honor to the country, just like what it does every time it represents the country.

It is therefore left for the Filipino people to support the team. History is on the side of the team. After all, the PDBF team can very well be the first Filipino team to win a gold medal at a World Cup event. Truly, the team deserves all the support it can get. It certainly deserves the total support and prayers of every Filipino.

ANG PAGMAMANIOBRA NG PCKF SA 2014 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES

Matapos gumawa ng gulo na umabot sa senado,  heto na naman sina Jonne Go at Len Escollante ng Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation na gumagawa na naman ng kababalaghan sa 2014 Philippine National Games.

1. Para masiguro na marami ang sasali sa dragon boat events sa 2014 PNG, ginawang mandatory para sa mga PCKF member teams ang pagsali. Nakakahiya nga naman kung konti o walang sumali sa pinangangasiwaang events ng PCKF. Kaya, ginawang mandatory ang pagsali sa dragon boat events para sa mga PCKF member teams. Subalit saan at kailan nangyari na ang mga dragon boat events sa PNG ay naging mandatory para sa mga club teams? Saan at kailan nangyari na puwersahan ang pagsali sa PNG ? Ang puwersado lang sumali sa PNG ay ang mga national teams para ipagtanggol ang kanilang pagiging national teams. Subalit dahil sa binuwag nina Go at Escollante ang national team, wala ng koponan ang puwersadong sumali sa dragon boat events sa PNG.

2. Biglang nagkaroon ng REGISTRATION FEE para sa mga non-PCKF member teams ang dragon boat events sa 2014 PNG. Batay sa website ng PSC, walang bayad ang pagsali sa PNG. Bakit nagkaroon ngayon ? Sa buong kasaysayan ng PNG, ngayon lang nagkaroon ng registration fee ang pagsali ng isang koponan. Kapansin-pansin na kung sino pa ang pinuputakti ng reklamo sa pananalapi, sila pa itong may ganang magpataw ng bayarin sa dapat naman ay walang bayad na paligsahan.

3. Ayon sa ilang mapapagkatiwalaan sources, ang driver at kasambahay ni Jonne Go ay kinuhang technical officials nuong mga nakaraang edisyon ng PNG. Di lang alam ng mga nasabing sources kung technical officials pa rin sila sa 2014 PNG. Walang masama kung gawing technical officials ang driver at kasambahay ng PCKF president. Kung sila ba ay bihasa sa teknikal na aspeto ng dragon boat, walang mali na sila ay kunin. Ang tanong, bihasa nga ba sila sa teknikal na aspeto ng dragon boat ?

4. Tahasang sinuway ng tambalang Go at Escollante ang kagustuhan nina PSC Chairman Richie Garcia at Commissioner Jolly Gomez na gawin ang dragon boat events ng 2014 PNG sa Manila Bay. Sa di malamang kadahilanan, ipinilit nina Go at Escollante na sa Tanauan, Batangas gawin ang dragon boat events. Ang kagulat-gulat, nanaig ang kagustuhan ng dalawang opisyal ng PCKF laban sa naisin ng dalawang mataas na opisyal ng PSC.

Sa susunod na post, ilalabas ko ang mga koponan na patuloy na tumatangkilik sa mga ginagawa ng PCKF. Ito ang mga teams na sa kabila ng gulong ginawa ng PCKF sa Philippine Dragon Boat Team at 2014 PNG ay nananatiling bulag sa nangyayari at takot na manindigan para sa katotohanan.

BAKIT MAY PRODUCTION NUMBER SA DRAGON BOAT COMPETITION SA PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES ?

Excellence in sports ba o partying ang pinahahalagahan ng PCKF ? At bakit may bayad ang di miyembro ng PCKF ? Di ba dapat libre ang pagsali sa Philippine National Games ?

THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE POC ARBITRATION COMMITTEE REGARDING THE DRAGON BOAT CONFLICT

ITO BA ANG SINASABING DIREKTIBA NI POC PRESIDENT PEPING COJUANGCO ?

Biglang napunta sa PCKF ang Philippine Dragon Boat Team dahil sa direktibang natanggap diumano ni POC President Peping Cojuangco. Subalit tatlong taon na ang nakalipas, hindi masa-publiko ni Cojuangco o ni PSC Chairman Garcia ang nasabing direktiba. Sumakabilang buhay na si PDBF Coach Nestor Ilagan, subalit ni anino ng direktiba ay di lumalabas. Sa aking pagsasaliksik, ito lamang ang aking nahagilap - isang email mula sa IOC.

Maliwanag na ang nasabing email mula sa IOC ay hindi direktiba. Bagkus, ito ay isang mungkahi lamang. Nakakapagtaka na sinabi ni Cojuangco na isang direktiba ang kanilang natanggap. Kapansin-pansin rin na hindi ang PCKF kundi ang POC ang nagtanong tungkol sa estado ng dragon boat. Pati ang presidente ng swimming association ay nakisawsaw rin. Subalit ni minsan ay hindi nakipagugnayan ang presidente mismo ng canoe-kayak sa IOC tungkol sa dragon boat sa Pilipinas.

Sa gulong nangyayari sa Philippine Dragon Boat team sa ilalim ng PCKF, marahil tama lang na makialam na ang International Canoe Federation at International Olympic Committee. Marapat na sigurong masuspindi na ang Pilipinas sa Olympics para umusbong ang isang malaking pagbabago sa larangan ng palakasan ng bansa.

ICF RESPONSE TO PHILIPPINE DRAGON BOAT TEAM CRISIS

Dear Eric,

We passed this issue on to Mr Narita as Continental President.  The ICF is greatly concerned about what has happened in your country with Dragonboat.  Our rules only us to intervene where a member is having issues with ICF, its not possible for us to interfere in internal issues. However, we have made this known to the Olympic Committee and will do so again after your letter as we want to see your dragonboat team at competitions.

Best regards,

Simon TOULSON

Secretary General

International Canoe Federation (ICF)

Always moving forward

http://www.canoeicf.com

Phone: +41 (0)21 612 0290

Fax: +41 (0)21 612 0291