Cedelf P. Tupas
MANILA---The Philippine Football Federation is looking to use the Rizal Memorial Stadium for the national team’s matches even after the 2014 World Cup Qualifying game in July.
The PFF is considering both the eight decades-old RMS and the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod as the site for the first-round qualifying match against Sri Lanka on July 3.
PFF president Mariano "Nonong" Araneta said Rizal Memorial could also be the site of the international tournament which Asia Brewery plans to organize as part of the sponsorship deal for the Azkals late this year.
Allaying earlier fears that the Rizal stadium that could accommodate 30,000 people may not be safe for spectators, Araneta said the renovations done during the term of former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping has strengthened the base of the facility.
"The Rizal Memorial Stadium is safe," said Araneta, who has until April 15 to decide on the venue for the World Cup qualifying match.
Araneta said one of the basis for the selection of the venue will be the cost.
Araneta said the PFF spent P4 million for the staging of the AFC Challenge Cup prequalifying match against Mongolia in Bacolod.
With reports that the PSC could no longer fund the work needed to meet the minimum standards of the Asian Football Confederationfor the Rizal Stadium, Araneta said the PFF will tap sponsors to fund the construction of dressing rooms and media rooms
Inquirer.net
Remove the track! Let's have a real football-specific stadium in Manila that can handle 30K fans!
ReplyDeleteWhy don't they lease part of the RMS to commercial fast food chains so they can raise money to upgrade the pitch. Just a thought.
ReplyDeletemongolian_azkal
They can renovate the Rizal stadium to double the capacity by constructing a second level or even 3rd level on the unroofed portion of the stadium. This would be realizable at the moment than waiting for a bigger stadium to be built.
ReplyDelete