PSC gives PFF helping hand in Panaad facelift

BY CHRISTINE MONCADA

ThE Philippine Sports Commission is giving the Philippine Football Federation a helping hand to ensure the Philippine team’s Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup series against Mongolia next month will be held at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

For starters, the PSC intends to install night lights at the Stadium, which will be inspected by AFC officials on Jan. 15 to determine whether it is suitable for the home-and-away series.

PSC Chairman Richie Garcia is sending a team to Bacolod to determine how much it would take for night lights to be installed.

Poor lighting at the Panaad Stadium was one of the major factors why the Philippines was not allowed to hold its home game against Indonesia in last month’s Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup. As a result, both games of the semis matches were held in Jakarta, with the Indonesians scoring 1-0 wins in both games.

"Sayang ang chance na makalaro ang national team natin sa harap ng mga kababayan nila. That’s why we’re working hard to improve the Panaad Stadium," Garcia said.

If organizers okay the venue, the Philippine team, known as the "Azkals," will host the Mongolians in the opener of the Challenge Cup on Feb. 9.

Mariano "Nonong" Araneta, whose election as PFF president was upheld by the International Football Federation (FIFA) last month, had earlier told Malaya the PFF will also request that the second game of the series be held here because at this time of the year it is too cold in Mongolia.

Malaya Business Insight