THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) admits it is facing a gargantuan task of filling the void left by businessman Jeff Cheng, the team manager of the women's football team known as Filipinas, who resigned Thursday.
The PFF, however, said it is ready to move on.
Cheng sent shockwaves around the local sports community when he abruptly resigned from his post which was immediately accepted by the PFF. Cheng is considered the architect behind a historic rise that saw the women's national football team qualify and win a match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand last year.
READ Filipinas, chief patron Jeff Cheng part ways due to differences in priorities
It was a feat of unprecedented significance as no Philippine team has ever qualified for the World Cup, the planet's most popular tournament, much less win a game by beating host New Zealand.
That Cheng left after the federation elected a new president speaks volumes about the possible frayed relationship between the former manager and the new PFF leadership.
The PFF has tried to downplay Cheng's departure and Cheng has not detailed the reason behind his decision, simply stating that their paths have become divergent.
In a statement, PFF director of national teams Freddy Gonzalez said the federation will do its best to maintain the gains that PWNT under Cheng’s stewardship produced over the years.
“Regretfully, I've had to accept Jeff Cheng's wish to depart as manager of the Philippine Women's National Teams,” said Gonzalez. “His massive contribution to Philippine football has been a source of great pride for all of us in the last few years, and I had hoped he could continue in his role.
"It's a big loss, but I must respect his decision and move forward.”
Cheng, who is also chief of the Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions (PAGSS), said he informed Gonzalez that he is stepping down as Filipinas team manager last Thursday, saying PWNT’s priorities and goals no longer align with the new set-up in the PFF.
Last November, the PFF elected John Gutierrez as new president replacing Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta, who, under the by-laws of the federation, is no longer eligible to run after exhausting a two-term limit. A term is for a period of four years.
Cheng and the PFF didn’t elaborate specifics as to how their working relationship deteriorated over the last few months, but Gonzalez said the federation is moving on.
“As director of national teams, the challenge of filling the void created by this departure falls under my responsibility. It's a huge challenge, but I have every intention to make sure we keep the program of the women's national team progressing in the right direction. We must continue building on Jeff's great work,” said Gonzalez.
'There's a lot to be done'
“There's a lot to be done. We'll be sharing more news soon,” he said.
In a separate statement that, curiously, has since been deleted, the PFF, as an organization, said its “doors always remain open to Mr. Cheng and all football supporters” while thanking Cheng for his accomplishments as team manager.
In the revised statement, PFF assured that it will "build on the momentum that the past administration has established."
“The Philippine Football Federation would like to thank Mr. Jefferson ‘Jeff’ Cheng for his years of support to the Philippine football community as the team manager of the Philippine Women’s Football Team.”
“Under Mr. Cheng’s leadership and backing of the PWNT, the Philippines achieved the elusive World Cup dream when the Filipinas made it to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For this and Mr. Cheng’s other efforts to promote the beautiful game and uphold the welfare of the Filipino football stakeholders in the country, the PFF is grateful,” said the PFF.
With Cheng’s announcement, the two senior national teams are now without a patron after Dan Palami also resigned as team manager of the men’s squad, formerly known as the Azkals, last year.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
