Yanson battle cry is ‘Football for All’

MANILA,Philippines — Behind his “Football Para Sa Lahat” campaign, Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) chief Ricardo “Ricky” Yanson Jr. yesterday vowed to lead the sport to greater heights if elected president of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

Yanson, football’s godfather in the south, will challenge incumbent PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta for the position when the body holds its elections on Nov. 29 at the Century Park Hotel.

The NOFA chief, who has batted for a stronger grassroots program for football across the nation, graced yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila.

Yanson feels that the lack of tournaments catering to Filipino football players from all ages remain as a stumbling block to the full development of the sport in the country.

“Sadly, in the previous years, we have not seen enough of these,” said Yanson, who was joined in the weekly forum by Laguna Football Association’s Aquilino Pastoral, NOFA’s Ronald Allan Treyes and Central Luzon Football Association’s Ed Flaminiano.

They also talked about the forthcoming Luzon Cup, an Under-12 tournament that will feature 16 teams from Nov. 21 to 24 in Tarlac.

If successful in the PFF elections, Yanson plans to strengthen the collaboration with all the FAs (football associations) within the country, and form a deeper pool of talent for the national team.

“Under a new administration, there will be deeper involvement by the football associations in the plans and programs of the PFF. We envision more age-group tournaments for boys and girls in the coming years,” he said.