By Mike Limpag
THERE seems to be no end to the bounty the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is getting.
After Smart offered an P80-million, 10-year program to help fund a league, the PFF got another offer, this time, a prime property to house its own pitch.
El Shaddai’s Bro. Mike Velarde has offered a 4.5-hectare property in Parañaque to help build an artificial pitch, which will cost $500,000 (P22 million).
It will be funded by Fifa’s Goal Project.
PFF president Mariano Araneta said yesterday that he and senior and Under 23 team manager Dan Palami, met last Jan. 26 with the El Shaddai leader, who offered the prime lot for the PFF’s use.
“I and Palami met with Brother Mike for an hour last week and he offered us this property where we can construct an artificial pitch subsidized by Fifa Goal Project 4 to the PFF,” Araneta said. “We have seen the property and it is ideal for our requirements. He (Velarde) wanted to formalize the agreement right there and then, but we expect it to be signed within the week.”
Araneta said that Fifa will release the $500,000 once it is inspected and passes the world football body’s specifications.
Among the terms of the deal with Bro. Velarde is a minimum 25-year lease of the area once the artificial pitch is constructed.
He added that the lot, located within one of the subdivisions developed by Velarde’s company, Anvel, is easily accessible and would serve as the permanent training facility of the national football teams.
Palami earlier identified a permanent training venue as one of the needs of the Azkals, who hold their training sessions at the University of Makati.
“Brother Mike also offered an area where the PFF could set up a permament office so that it wouldn’t be far from the pitch,” he said.
He said they would consider the office offer, assuming they can find a buyer for the PFF’s present office building in Pasig City, which cost over P20 million in the lot purchase and construction.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 01, 2011.
Sun Star Cebu
KOREA DPR ARE #U17WWC CHAMPIONS! 🇰🇵🏆
12 hours ago
That Bro. Mike is a big time bullisht artist, one of many 700 club satellites who exploits many weak minded impoverish filipinos in the name of god, to push an its agenda. Futbol should not have ties with any faith based entities that gives restrictions to the sport.
ReplyDeleteartificial pitch??? come on.... this is not good!
ReplyDeleteI understand how the Anonymous poster from 2 entries back feels re: Bro. Mike contributing to Philippine Futbol and what implications this may have down the road. However, there have been other instances where a "controversial" religious figure has been able to keep secular regarding their affiliations with a professional football team (most recently, the Korean Unification Church and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma...a recent semi-finalist with the FIFA 2010 Club World Cup).
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping that Bro. Mike's contribution may be used (at most) for tax purposes, etc
Mike Velarde is not giving it or donating it to the PFF... he offered his lot to the PFF with a minimum of 25 year lease!
ReplyDeleteThey're not building a stadium? It says there that they're just building a pitch, and their budget is 22M which is far from enough for a stadium.
ReplyDeleteIf they're just building a pitch, I hope they leave room so they can build a stadium around it.
to the guy who doesn't like artificial pitches.
ReplyDeleteSome kinds of artificial turf are plain bad, but some newer ones are better in simulating grass.
Besides...it will reduce maintenance costs because hindi na madaling "mapudpod" ang field. So unless may sponsor na babantay sa grass nila, okey na ang artificial pitch.
whatever, hehe, point of order. GO AZKAAAAAAAAAAAAAALS!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's actually good for elshadai. Gagamitin din yon ni bro mike/elshadai gathering once build na ang stadium.
ReplyDelete