PHILS VS. SRI LANKA Football match at Rizal Memorial Stadium
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 15 Apr 2011
An offer of assistance from San Miguel Corp. helped the Philippine Sports Commission to agree that the coming match between the Philippine Azkals and Sri-Lanka in the Asian Football Confederation be held at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Sports commissioner Chito Loyzaga, wouldn?t divulge what kind of assistance the giant food and beverage conglomerate has offered, except to say that it Philippine Football Federation through its president, Nonong Araneta, who advised the PSC of the forthcoming SMC assistance.
?The PFF, in fact, has requested us that its representatives and those of SMC be given permission to make an ocular inspection of the Rizal Stadium, which we granted,? Loyzaga said in Friday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant.
?Since they are asking that they be allowed to inspect the venue, I surmised that SMC is willing to shoulder the expenses in making the stadium met the standard set by FIFA (International Football Federation), ? Loyzaga said.
?For us in the PSC, we welcome that kasi kung magagwang international standard ang stadium, maganda, di ba? ?That really is our target, to improve the standard of the stadium. Kung mangyayari yun, hindi lang football, maging iba pang bit sporting events puwede nating i-host,? he reasoned out.
Bacolod City was also bidding to stage the game at the Panaad Stadium and PSC chair Richie Garcia, a Bacolodnon, quoting finding by the Department of Public Works and Highways, even declared the Rizal Stadium, which was built in 1934 and has survived the test of times, condemned.
Loyzaga also told his SCOOP audience that the field itself is ready and that what would be needed is to install individual seats in the covered area of the stadium.
?The scoreboard should also be repaired in accordance to the standard set by FIFA,? he said. ?And I think SMC would be amenable to install those that are needed,? Loyzaga, himself a former SMC executive before accepting the PSC commissionership, said.
A meeting with SMC representative Noli Eala and himself is set Monday next week to determine that role the corporation will play.
Loyzaga allayed fears that renovation of the stadium will have an adverse effect the memorandum of agreement signed between the previous PSC administration and La Salle in regards to the use of the venue where La Salle spent some P8 million to transform the 1934 built track-football stadium to a first class football venue.
?Na-settle na yung issue na yun. We have given La Salle access to the stadium at specific hours of specific days, so wala na akong nakikitang problema dun,? he said. ?Besides, plans are to also renovate the ULTRA football field for the use of La Salle,? he said.
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