It was a roller coaster Thursday for Pinoy football as men’s national football (PMNFT) team Tom Saintfiet announced his exit from the Philippines and his transfer as to Mali.

“With pain in my heart I announce my departure as National Team Coach of the Philippines. PFF and I agreed to terminate the contract,” the Belgian internationalist wrote on Facebook.

“Me and my family will for sure return to the beautiful Philippines!” Saintfiet ended.

The Fédération Malienne de Football first broke the news early this morning.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) immediately named national men’s under-23 team manager Norman Fegidero as acting coach for the upcoming Merdeka Cup in Malasyia starting on September 4.

He will be assisted by the coaching staff of the Philippine women’s national football team led by women’s head coach Mark Torcaso.

In response, PFF national teams director Freddy Gonzalez clarified that there is a “longterm contract” with Saintfiet and that PFF “had every intention of seeing it through.”

“The he came to me about the Mali job just as we’re about to depart for the Merdeka Cup if obviously dispappointing,” Gonzalez wrote. “But it made clear to me that his heart was already set elsewhere.”

“I have no interest in holding on to anyone who’s not fully committed to the Philippines and our goals,” Gonzalez emphasized.

Saintfiet, who started his tenure last March, leaves a 0-4 card for PMNFT with a -7 goal difference, all played in the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

World number 53 Mali will be his 12th national team stint.

Prior to his Philippine stint, Saintfiet managed The Gambia, leading the former world number 150 team to an impressive quarterfinal stint in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

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