Officials of the Philippine Football Federation are adamant that the men and women’s football teams earn a place in the RP delegation to the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Appearing at the PSA Forum in Manila, football officials, led by President Juan Miguel Romualdez, said the teams are strong medal prospects for the biennial meet set this December.

“With the squad that we have, we see no reason why we can’t bring home a medal from the SEA Games, given a chance to join the event,” Marlon Maro, coach of the women’s team that finished fourth in 2005, said.

The men’s team failed to win a medal in the previous SEA Games held in Bacolod but posted a remarkable 4-2 win over Cambodia, after losing to Thailand, 0-1. The Nationals missed out on a semis berth, going down, 2-4, to Malaysia.

Both men and women’s teams were unable to make the grade set by the SEAG Task Force.

Romualdez, however, said that, with the addition of Fil-foreigners in the teams, they can give the other SEAG nations a run for the title.

Among those who have committed to play for the country are brothers Phil and James Younghusband, who also saw action during the 2005 SEAG, the PFF president said.

"We also have other local and foreign prospects that we are eyeing to beef up the squad. As one of the vice presidents of the Asean Football Federation, it would be embarrassing for our country if we don't field a team to the SEA Games," Romualdez added.

The PFF had planned to bankroll the teams with money coming from the savings it will have from the construction of its new building but Romualdez said that the appreciation of the peso has forced them to ditch the idea. *CPT

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