Panaad stadium all spruced up for RP vs. Mongolia encounter

Reserved tickets were released yesterday and seating arrangements at the grandstand were finalized as finishing touches were put on the stadium for tomorrow’s game between the Philippine national football team and the visiting Mongolia squad in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifying game.

Local organizers said Negros Occidenal Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and other ticketed VIPs will be seated at the grandstand. They were advised earlier to hold on to their tickets as the “no ticket, no entry” and “one ticket, one person” policy will be strictly enforced even on local government officials.

All the lightings required for the game, which will start at 7 p.m. tomorrow, were already installed. The game will be covered live by ABS-CBN Studio 23.

Earlier, provincial Board Member Patrick Lacson said that four ticket booths will be opened at the entrance of the stadium to distribute the free tickets requested by Gov. Marañon from the Philippine Football Federation for general admission.

The free tickets will be for the bleachers surrounding the stadium. Those who will watch the game at the stadium are encouraged to wear white shirts to show support for the Azkals, who will be donning their white uniform for the game, Lacson said.

Meanwhile, team manager Dan Stephen Palami said the Azkals are overwhelmed with the warm welcome they received from the people of Bacolod City.

The team, he said, will be playing their best to make the people proud of the national team.

While little has been heard about Team Mongolia, Palami said the Azkals are always reminded to play a competitive game, irregardless of who their opponents are.

With the arrival of midfielder Rob Gier yesterday, the Azkals are now complete. Training with the team are Fil-foreigners James and Ryan Hall, Gerry Lucena, and Dennis Cagara

While the four new recruits are now considered part of the team, they will not be able to play in tomorrow’s match as they have to settle their Philippine passports, Palami said.

After tomorrow’s game at the Panaad, the Philippine and Mongolia teams will be playing the second leg of the playoff match in Mongolia in March.

The team with the highest aggregate score after the two games will advance in the next round of the AFC Challenge Cup.*NAB

Visayan Daily Star