Three Tv networks bid to broadcast Azkals Games

PHILIPPINE Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta said on Friday that three television networks have already expressed interest to broadcast the 2011 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifying series on February 9 at the Panaad Stadium.
The Philippine men’s football team better known as “Azkals’ will be matched against the Mongolian football team in the said event.
Araneta told The Manila Times that ABS-CBN Channel 2 and ABC Channel 5 already initiated negotiations to become the official
broadcast partner of the games.

“Dan Palami, the Azkals’ team manager, is presently talking with two or three television networks,” said Araneta. “I’m still waiting for his response and I’m so happy about their [television networks] interest to cover the game.”

Palami meanwhile revealed that GMA 7 has also expressed intension to cover the football event.

“I’m sure after Monday there will be an official announcement on which station will be the official broadcast partner of the Azkals’ game in Bacolod,” said Palami.

ABS CBN vice president for sports Peter Musngi, for his part, confirmed to The Times that there’s indeed an ongoing negotiation between his station and the PFF regarding the coverage of the Bacolod football games as well as the second leg in Mongolia on March 15.

“There is an ongoing discussion between us [ABS CBN and PFF] but so far we can’t reveal it,” said Musngi, whose station also broadcasted the Azkals’ historic games in the Suzuki Cup last year in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Josef T. Ramos

Manila Times