Azkals to play home match at Rizal Memorial Stadium

PHILIPPINE Football Team-Azkals team coordinator Patrick Ace Bright on Thursday confirmed that the July 3 first qualifying match between the Azkals and Sri Lanka for the of the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.


Bright, who was in Panaad Park and Stadium Thursday with Azkals stalwarts Ian Araneta, Roel Gener and reserve keeper Paolo Pascual, said that despite Panaad’s successful staging of the February 9 match against Mongolia, the people in Manila also deserve that privilege for a live viewing of the game.

The Azkals will play a home and away game where the June 29 match will be in Sri Lanka.

“This will not be the last time that the Azkals will play here in the Philippines. We still have an upcoming match against Kuwait and we look forward to bringing the game back here in Panaad,” Bright said.

He also added that having the game in Manila will also allow their team to transport its logistics easily.

Meanwhile, PFF president Mariano Araneta said in an interview that Panaad Stadium was also considered as a probable venue for the match against Sri Lanka. However, he explained that PFF also wanted to hold the match in Manila, which has not hosted an international match for quite some time.


The last significant football tournament held at Rizal Memorial Stadium was the 1991 Southeast Asian Games where the Philippine Team reached the semifinals.


On the other hand, Philippine Olympic Committee chairman and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Advisory Council member Monico Puentevella said that, since Manila is the capital of the Philippines, "we should give Manileños the chance to see the Azkals, too."


“I hope we don’t threaten the games here with the 30 percent amusement tax the next time it will be staged here. The Azkals will surely generate millions with this game in Rizal,” he said.


To recall, shortly before the February 9 match between the Azkals and Mongolia in Bacolod City, the Bacolod City Council passed a resolution charging the organizers with a 30 percent amusement tax on the tickets sales of the match. However, upon request of the PFF, the City Council later waived the tax. (JSG)

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on April 15, 2011.