MANILA – Philippines Football League (PFL) commissioner Coco Torre has set up a meeting with the officials of Global Makati as allegations of delayed salaries continue to hound the club.
“Our aim is to ascertain the current situation of the club and discuss with club management the actions they are taking,” said Torre through a statement on Tuesday night.
Global Makati has been accused of not paying its players and staff in time since last year, and it reached boiling point on Sunday night when its former graphics designer took to Facebook his own story.
Saya Jaruda revealed that the club has not him paid yet for inforgraphics announcing its new signings.
"Global requested me to make graphics for the new upcoming players and they promised to pay me afterwards and take note that was January and today is already July," Jaruda said.
Despite promises from Global Makati's new owner, Tami Mazinyi, Jaruda claimed that Mazinyi has not done a single transaction to pay him up.
Jaruda then irked after seeing posts of Mazinyi attending parties, leading to his post.
John Cofie, one of Global Makati's new signings, then claimed that he too has not received any salary from the club, even calling it "a sham."
"The owner, Tami, is [a] compulsive liar! Me and my representatives are going after the club too as they owe me [the] signing fee plus 6 months worth of wages!" said Cofie, a product of Manchester United's youth program and was once a part of England's under-17 team.
Philippine Football Federation secretary general Ed Gastanes, on the other hand, wants to assure that the PFL players will be taken care of especially financially.
“Players’ welfare is important to the growth of a professional club and of the league. The club must address the issues raised,” Gastanes said.
Meanwhile, Mazinyi, as stated in Global Makati's statement, will remain mum until he and the rest of the officials at Mazinyi Management are done meeting with Torre.
"Mazinyi Management Ltd. will not be accepting requests for comments and interviews until after that meeting," the statement read.
However, the club said that it will still play in the upcoming PFL season, whose start is still unknown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
"We would like to reiterate that we are committed to Global FC and clearing these matters, as well as ensuring its participation in the 2020 season with an eye on challenging for trophies," Global Makati further said. (PNA)
