Manila Montet FC players cry for help amidst issues on allowances and playing conditions

Photo Credits: Philippines Football League / Matchday Media

As if the continuous losing streak of their side isn't enough, Manila Montet FC faces another challenge and this time, it's coming from the inside with some of the players have cried foul over their allowances and playing conditions.

Nine matches into the season, Manila Montet FC haven't found their strides as of the moment as they remain winless and with a dismal -61 in goal difference. This could be accounted to the players' mindset heading into every game day.

Several members of the team have voiced out their sentiments regarding their playing environment as well as the allowance which they should be eligible for considering that they are not an income-generating club as of the moment and won't be able to pay for their salaries.

However, despite their pleas to the management, players felt it was falling on deaf ears and have posted it through their socials. One player in particular, Mark James Jones, their never-say-die goalkeeper who had plenty of bad experiences with the club wasn't able to contain his emotions and went online to have his side heard.

In a Facebook story that has already expired, Jones mentioned he was following up on the allowance that he should've been receiving as promised by the club but there seems to be a delay in the release of the said funds.

Their allowance was only 200 pesos per day which already includes their food and travel allowances. Jones pointed out to the ESBF team in an interview that it wouldn't even cover half of his meal for the day as 160 pesos of it already goes to his commuting expenses.

Henry Piñero, Manila Montet FC's only goalscorer as of posting time, also gave us his sentiments saying, "Before we arrived from Dumaguete, what was promised to us was a house to stay in, food, fare, and allowance for only 2000 pesos but when we arrived in Manila, we were only given 160 pesos per day.

He also mentioned that there weren't any additional benefits despite the meager cash allowance that they received. "There were no benefits at all. Even for me that I scored the first goal for Montet rather than giving a bonus the only thing I received was thank you."

While the players couldn't demand more than an allowance as their club's current status is still at an amateur level, this doesn't give the club the right to exploit these players who are just looking for experience and an avenue for them to showcase their talent.

In a post on their socials, Manila Montet FC owner Thomas Vivian Montet said, " Like many other clubs, our players receive varying packages. Some have more favorable deals than others, and by the way, this is not always fair for some when you see the performances, but we are learning about this as well. Some of our players just get allowances while the luckiest get full accommodations, including food and 200 PHP per day on top of it. They have to come to three or four trainings of two hours a week plus the game day; nothing more. We do not feel it is such a horrific deal."

Contrary to this statement, some players, who requested not to be named for their safety and privacy, told the ESBF team that some players receive 200 pesos per week or even less depending on their attendance at their training sessions as well as their performance, be it as an individual or as a team, during matchday.

What's worst is that the allowance they get is already inclusive of their meals and transportation allowances which may not be enough considering they are training in BGC.

One of the players who chose not to be named for his safety and privacy told the ESBF team that he received a total of 1000 pesos in two weeks which would be equivalent to an allowance of 100 pesos per day which includes their training sessions of three to four times per week and the actual matchday.

Jones also shared with the ESBF team that they don't get allowances if they don't show up for training regardless if they are injured or for any other reasons for their absence.

"May pasa pa po yung hita ko from the last game but we still have to show up po kaso wala naman pong PT (physical therapist), said Jones regarding the sad state of their club."

Apart from a bruise, Jones also showed us the gashes on his legs that he got from sliding challenges and diving saves during their matches.

To make matters worse, not only does the team not have an actual physical therapist, but they also don't get any medical reimbursements for any injuries they may get during their training sessions and matchday.

It's just painful to see the current state of Manila Montet FC considering how their owner Thomas Vivian Montet mentioned in an interview through their club's socials that they are financially stable. His statement was, " Financially, we may well be the most stable club in the PFL even though we have no external support like other clubs. Finance is what we are best at, so we know how to manage the budget and ensure the club is financially sustainable."

Sure, they may be financially sustainable but it doesn't reflect on what their players told us about and most certainly, not how a football team should be run. An example of how an amateur team should be run can be seen through their competitor Tuloy FC.

Tuloy FC joined the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara as a guest team as well as the 2024 PFL season because of their amateur status but that doesn't stop them from showing up week in, week out.

In fact, there weren't any complaints related to allowances or playing conditions as the players are housed in a dormitory in Don Bosco, provided with food and transportation allowances to and from the matches, and to top it off, their own training facility which eliminates the rental and logistics cost.

Sure, Manila Montet FC aims to help improve the landscape of Philippine Football by allowing these players to play against the best players in the country but at the expense of exploitation.

They might be registered as amateurs at the moment but if they have plans of being a professional club and a mainstay in the PFL, they should amend these issues the soonest or they might be facing more than just a simple scratching off of the league.