WHEN I heard that U23 team captain Matt Hartmann left the team in the Southeast Asian Games I told myself, �this dude just kissed his international career goodbye.�
A few weeks back, when I learned how he went legalese with coach Michael Weiss, I thought he lost his marbles. When I learned how he justified his departure, by saying �that he wasn�t obliged to stay with the team and could leave anytime,� I thought this young dude deserved to be taught a lesson.
A ban from the national team should suffice.
A few weeks back, when I learned how he went legalese with coach Michael Weiss, I thought he lost his marbles. When I learned how he justified his departure, by saying �that he wasn�t obliged to stay with the team and could leave anytime,� I thought this young dude deserved to be taught a lesson.
A ban from the national team should suffice.
But a lifetime ban, too, in club football?
That�s a bit harsh. We are talking about a young man�s livelihood here, without a career, what is the guy going to do for a living? Stand in for Mr. Clean?
I hope Matt files an appeal, and I hope he gets his second chance in the UFL.
And even with the national team, too.
I�m a sucker for second, and even, third chances.
If not for a second chance, I wouldn�t be able to see the 1990s. If not for another chance, I wouldn�t be able to see the 2000s. And if not for yet another chance, I wouldn�t have survived 2001.
Career-wise, a second chance got me to Sun.Star Cebu, writing about the Philippine team back in 2000 and a third got me covering the SEA Games in 2005.
So a second chance, for me, shouldn�t be denied for Matt Hartmann, the one-time captain. Everybody deserves a second chance. A chance to make amends.
And yes, even with the national team.
But he has to earn it. He has to really earn it.
Matt�s stint with the national team was a privilege, not a right. And him saying that �he didn�t have to stay with the team because the PFF didn�t follow the protocol in informing his club of international duties� reeked of arrogance.
It�s a lame excuse that insults those who have worn the countries colors, and I�m not only talking about the football players.
But one thing that scares me though, is the power the Disciplinary Committee has shown. As a body independent of the PFF, I don�t think they realized what they have subjected Hartmann by barring him from club football.
But, as a law firm, don't they realize that the right to employment is fundamental?
What have they done?
They�ve just made the villain in the story, the victim.
They wanted to teach Matt a lesson, but this I ask, who will teach the Disciplinary Committee theirs?
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