LESS THAN two months before the POC elections and still there is no clear indication if anyone will stand up to challenge incumbent president Peping Cojuangco.
As everyone knows, Cojuangco is seeking a third term much to the dismay of critics who ridicule him for not having done anything for Philippine sports in his 8-year tenure.
But are these critics also doing anything to get Philippine sports out of the doldrums? Is there anything happening behind the scene that we don’t know about?
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Yesterday I texted Cojuangco’s biggest critic, Patafa president Go Teng Kok to pose the question.
“What exactly do you expect to happen in the coming POC elections?” I asked him. Only a few days ago, GTK had sent a text message to selected members of the media informing them of his plan to run against Peping.
“I am mulling to run for POC president come November. Peping Cojuangco must accept my challenge. He must not resort to technicalities which he himself authored to disqualify potential opponents like me,” read the SMS of GTK who, before his declaration, had been batting for Manny V. Pangilinan as POC president.
GTK ends his message by pointing out that if anyone from any other NSA makes known his intention to run against Peping, he would immediately step aside.
“I will instead pledge my full support to this courageous opponent of Peping. My swing vote will surely crush Peping’s dynasty. I hope MVP goes for it. There is indeed a loud clamor for him to run. He would surely win if he does. Anyone he supports will win, even me. Only he is in a position to save Philippine sports,” GTK said.
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In a three-way phone conversation yesterday morning, GTK admitted he did not expect to win in the event he runs against Peping.
“My declaration to run is just a wake-up call for the other NSA’s,” he said.
GTK said he read the article on the growing clamor for MVP to run against Peping.
“I hope and pray that he does,” said GTK.
Frankly, it’s hard to imagine MVP running for a POC position against anyone, even if it is the highest position. I can only see MVP accepting such a post if it is offered to him by his projected opponent. Like Peping.
But Peping will never do such a thing. He will never relinquish his post, even though deep in his heart he knows that MVP will be good for Philippine sports.
“Do you think somebody could reach out to Peping?” the third party in the three-way conversation finally said. “Do you think we can implore Peping to please give others a chance? Do you think somebody close to him can ask him to endorse MVP? I still believe in miracles… In other words, I believe we can’t make MVP run, but we can definitely convince him to help. He is more than willing to help,” said the third party, who has requested anonymity.
But GTK insists MVP should run.
“I beg to disagree with him, but being president of the POC is not a full-time job. He can still attend to his many businesses. All he has to do is appoint an efficient and knowledgeable secretary general. It’s the secgens who are the workhorses,” said GTK who cited the case of the Singapore Olympic Committee.
“The secgen is appointed by the president. He doesn’t have to have an NSA.
“It is most ideal if he is a professional, like Singapore’s Chris Chan who is super efficient. He studies the ins and outs of his job by monitoring the Olympic committees of all the other countries.”
“He can get a good secgen and he has the resources to pay him well.”
Did my inquiry get me anywhere? Did the readers get an idea of what to expect in the coming POC elections scheduled last Wednesday of November? I think MVP is still weighing his options, as I write this. I couldn’t visualize any other scenario.