MANILA, Philippines -- Some members of national badminton team are up in arms against officials of the Philippine Badminton Association over several issues including the PBA decision to sanction a handful of moneyed individuals to don the RP colors in international competitions.

One of the disgruntled RP shuttlers, who refused to be named, said the national players are demoralized that the PBA approved and financed the stints of several businessmen in the recent US Open.

The same players are also reportedly entered in the coming Macau Open.

“We have been training everyday but when competition comes it’s them who get sent abroad,” said one player. “Just because they have the money they can go and compete? That affected us deeply.”

The player, who claimed he is speaking on behalf of his teammates, also complained over the lack of equipment, saying that last month they were given used shuttlecocks from the recent Philippine Open.

“How can we improve if we use used shuttlecocks,” he said, adding that the foreign coaches promised them before the Philippine Open last July have yet to arrive up to now.

PBA secretary general Gen. George Piano admitted that players outside of the national team competed in the US Open last month but claimed that they only saw action in the masters category.

“There are different categories in the US Open, one is the Elite and the other is the Masters for seniors,” Piano told the Inquirer. “In the US Open Masters, you are not required to be a member of the national team.”

The PBA official said the association is hampered by lack of fund like all NSAs and allowed those with funds to compete abroad only to keep the sport going.

Piano admitted that the PBA officials have not sat down in a meeting with the players lately but said the used shuttlecocks were not for the use of the nationals.

“Coach Errol Chan is taking care of the supplies of the national team,” Piano said.

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