Obiena lone athlete in the world as paymaster, too

THIRD parties should come in quick. Things are getting out of hand fast— if they haven’t already. EJ Obiena has definitely been pushed against the wall— unnecessarily. It’s a pity because he is not just an ordinary athlete. He is not just a national idol. He has become a world-class athlete. A pole vaulter of note, he has put the Philippines on the world map. He is now ranked No. 5 in the uni ver se.

But how come he’s being thrust to a life of dirt? That he’s been tossed seemingly into a sea of mud to be ogled at as though he’s become a loathsome part of society’s scums?

And, by golly, the party putting Obiena from hero to villain is none other than his own mother federation, the Patafa (Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association) headed by Philip Ella Juico.

For several days now, Obiena has been busy not practicing but parrying lance after lance from Patafa on allegations painting the pole vault ace from Tondo, Manila, as a thief— and more.

Recall that Patafa first accused Obiena of stealing the salary of his Ukrainian (not Russian) coach, Vitaly Petrov.

After Obiena appeared in a virtual presser from his base in Fornia, Italy, effectively debunking Patafa’s accusation, with Petrov by Obiena’s side saying Obiena had given him his salaries in full, Patafa would say next that Obiena’s payments to Petrov were del ayed .

What’s this fault-finding? Fishing expedition?

No theft was committed— obviously. Instead of apologizing outright, Patafa comes up next with a crime so petty it amounts to making a mountain out of a molehill.

Why was Obiena tasked to pay Petrov’s salaries, in the first place? Unthinkable.

On the delay issue, Obiena admitted it, saying his training schedule got in the way.