Saintfiet, winless in six months, orphans men’s national side

Tom Saintfiet talks strategy with the national team. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Philippine men’s football team, a week before an important tournament in Malaysia, is suddenly without a coach as Tom Saintfiet left the team in a huff on Thursday to pursue what is obviously a more lucrative opportunity back in Africa.

Saintfiet was tied to a long-term contract with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), serving out just six months of that while failing to steer the team to a win in four matches. He left to coach the Mali national squad.

Norman Fegidero has been appointed by the PFF to call the shots on an interim basis, at least for the Merdeka Cup slated Sept. 4 and Sept. 8 in Kuala Lumpur. He will have a staff composed of women’s team coach Mark Torcaso and his assistants.

“Luckily for us, we have a great staff on the women’s side that was more than willing to answer the call for this tournament,” said Freddy Gonzalez, the PFF’s director of national teams. “It’s unusual to see a crossover of staff from separate teams, but it’s a situation that required a novel solution.” The twist of events leaves the men’s team scrambling in its preparations for the invitational tournament as the Philippines takes on Malaysia in the semifinals and Lebanon or Tajikistan in the final or the battle for third place.

Though Gonzalez had said in his initial statement confirming Saintfiet’s move to Mali that he wouldn’t stand in the way “if a bigger opportunity came to him,” the PFF official did come back with a separate statement at how things transpired.

“We had a long-term contract with Tom, and had every intention of seeing it through,” he said. “That he came to me about the Mali job just as we’re about to depart for the Merdeka Cup is obviously disappointing. But it made clear to me that his heart was already set elsewhere.

“I have no interest in holding on to anyone who’s not fully committed to the Philippines and our goals. We need people who are all in,” Gonzales went on. “It’s the only way we will succeed. That goes for the players, the staff, and most definitely our head coach. We intend to get that man on board very soon.”

Of bigger concern is the need to have a setup in place for December for the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup, Southeast Asia’s major tournament, where he Philippines hopes to make the semifinals for the first time since 2018.