Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta will play a big role in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Araneta formally accepted an appointment yesterday to become the new national team Chief of Mission for the Olympiad next year.
Newly elected Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Bambol Tolentino’s decision to give Araneta a major responsibility in forming the national team for the quadrennial meet was ratified yesterday during the POC General Assembly meeting at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
Also ratified during the meeting was the appointment of PFF general secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes as the new POC secretary general, taking the place of Pato Gregorio.
Fencing head Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez is deputy secretary general.
The body also approved by the appointment of muay thai chief Gen. (ret.) Lucas Managuelod as head of the POC membership, in place of squash head Robert Bachmann
“I would like to thank president Bambol for appointing yours truly as the Chef de Mission (to the Tokyo Olympics) as well as the general assembly for formalizing my appointment,” said Araneta.
The 65-year-old Araneta is also a member of the powerful Executive Council of the International Football Federation.
A former national player, Araneta is also part of the Executive Council of the Asian Football Confederation, and was recently re-appointed as head of its Finance Committee.
“Of course, this is another challenge for us. But we are willing to learn,” said Araneta, who has been at the helm of the PFF since 2010.
Araneta said he expects to undergo training from the International Olympic Committee for his new role as the point man of the PH contingent for the Tokyo Olympics.