YES, even the man himself doesn’t believe he stands a chance at beating incumbent Jose `Peping’ Cojuangco in the Nov. 30 election of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
But by vying for the presidency of the country’s Olympic governing body, Go Teng Kok said he hopes to expose what he called "the sad state of sports in the country."
The controversial head of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association formally filed his candidacy for POC president Friday to put himself once again in a direct collision with the 78-year-old Cojuangco, who is seeking his third term.
“I am running for the POC presidency to challenge not just the present leadership, but also the unjust system prevailing in our organization,” said Go.
The candidacy of the athletics chief, however, could be hindered by a previous decision of the POC general assembly declaring him as a persona non-grata.
“I am not embarking on a quixotic dream, but I admit this is an exercise of an impossible mission. I have been punished for doing what is right, and Mr. Cojuangco and his cohorts tried to silence me by expulsion and calling me a persona non grata in their controlled POC set-up," Go said.
“By filing my candidacy, I am not fooling myself that I can win, but I hope some people get fully awakened to the true sorry state of PH sports under Mr. Cojuangco,” he added.
The POC election committee headed by Victorico Chavez will still determine whether Go’s candidacy is valid, but Cojuangco said in a previous interview that he won’t stand in the way of Go running for the position.
“Payag ako dyan para malaman na kung ilan ang boto niya,” said Cojuangco.
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