By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
NEGROS Occidental Football Association (NOFA) president Ricardo “Ricky” Yanson is running for Philippine Football Federation (PFF) head with his bid anchored on pushing for more development programs for the sport.
To challenge incumbent PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta for the position in elections set for Nov. 29 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Mr. Yanson, 48, seeks to push further dimension to the PFF’s thrust as an organization, particularly in rearing the federation to addressing the lack of national age-group tournaments which is key, he said, to deepening the pool of local talent in the country and truly cultivating the growth of the sport from the grassroots.
“Sadly, in the previous years, we have not seen enough of these (age-group tournaments). And the PFF has not invested enough resources, to grow the game, especially in the regions,” said Mr. Yanson at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Nov. 19.
The NOFA president said he would do such programs in strong collaboration with different football associations in the country.
“Under a new administration, there will be deeper involvement by the football associations, in the plans and programs of the PFF,” said Mr. Yanson.
Since taking the leadership of NOFA, Mr. Yanson has helped make football thrive in the Negros region. NOFA organizes the Dynamic Football League (DFL) for boys and girls of different age groups; DFL runs all year round and holds multiple conferences.
NOFA also collaborates with fellow FAs to mount tournaments in different regions; such as the Mindanao Cup that was organized in cooperation with the Davao South Regional Football Association, and the Luzon Cup in partnership with the Central Luzon Football Association (CLFA).
NOFA supports coaches’ and referees’ education through hosting coaching/refereeing license courses conducted by the Technical Department of the Philippine Football Federation. NOFA also runs its own NOFA Football Academy where talented young players are taught not just football skills but more importantly, values and proper work ethic to carry them through the rest of their lives.
Mr. Yanson announced his intention to run for PFF president in September during the launch of the Mindanao Cup in Davao.
Concerns, however, have been lodged against Mr. Yanson that the company dispute between him and three of his siblings with their younger brother Leo Rey, the owner of top football club Ceres-Negros, would affect the unity of stakeholders.
But the NOFA president was quick to allay the fears, saying it would be a non-issue in dispensing his duties as PFF president if privileged enough to be voted into the office.
