MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine football team’s British coach Simon McMenemy has assailed the revamp being hatched by former Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Jose Mari Martinez.
“This is scandalous and shows a lot of disrespect,” McMenemy said.
“This is scandalous and shows a lot of disrespect,” McMenemy said.
Martinez, who enjoys the support of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association or International Federation of Association Football) despite being removed as PFF chief, said that he wants to assemble a Philippine team better than what the country currently has.
“They get so close to a big tournament and they get told by their decision-maker [Martinez] that it’s not good enough and that we need better people is so disrespectful. It’s unimaginable,” said McMenemy.
The Philippine team, also known as the “Azkals”, has made it into the Final 4 of the 2010 ASEAN Football Association (AFF) Suzuki Cup after beating Singapore and defending champion Vietnam and drawing with Myanmar.
The Azkals will have 2 semifinal games against Indonesia.
Martinez, who was replaced by Mariano Araneta as PFF president, was quoted by the Philippine Star as saying that he is recruiting a Brazilian coach to replace McMenemy.
“I am now negotiating to recruit a Brazilian coach, Rick Figuerido, who has about 12 years of World Cup experience with Brazil, Mexico and Jamaica. I can form another national team that’s better than what we’ve got now,” Martinez told The Philippine Star.
But Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia thinks the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will stand in the way of the revamp being planned by Martinez.
The POC has the sole authority when it comes to representation of the Philippines in the Olympic Games, the Asian Games, the Southeast Asian Games and other multi-event competitions.
“I don’t think the Philippine Olympic Committee will allow this to happen,” said Garcia.
Team manager Dan Palami, who has invested a small fortune on the national squad, also took exception to Martinez’s allegations that he had “brainwashed” the team into issuing the statement about the lack of PFF support under Martinez’s leadership.
“These players have a mind of their own. Football is not merely a physical game but also a mental game, so these players know they have to think for themselves,” Palami said.
“Just the same, this is just another obstacle that our boys hope to overcome as we try to bring honor to flag and country and make our countrymen proud,” Palami said.
The Azkals' first semi-final game against Indonesia will be played on Thursday, and the second on Sunday.
Both matches will be aired live on Studio 23.
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