Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Monico Puentevella, who is currently in Doha, Qatar, yesterday told Sun.Star-Bacolod that he and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta has met with newly-elected Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive member Ganbold of Mongolia to request for the two games for the forthcoming AFC Challenge Cup to be played in Panaad Stadium, Bacolod City instead of home and away basis.
This effort is to avoid the freezing winter weather all over Europe and some parts of Asia, however the Mongolian official declined, insisting on one game in Mongolia, which he proposed to be on March 15, 2011.
First game is scheduled February 9, 2011, in Bacolod City and Araneta proposed the next game to be played on Feb. 12, 2011, in the same venue which would mean less expense for the Mongolian team but to no avail.
Negotiation was done during the 24th Asian Football Confederation Congress held here in Doha, Qatar, where AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam was elected unopposed for another four years, according to Puentevella.
FIFA�s Pres. Sepp Blatter attended and spoke at the forum before the hotly contested election for the other AFC positions.
In the meantime, Puentevella expressed his appreciation for the all out support being given to the preparation of the forthcoming Challenge Cup games in Bacolod City to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Mara�on and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia.
The only problem hanging now is the approval of DepEd Sec. Bro. Armin Luistro for the transfer of the lights from Paglaum Stadium to Panaad which is owned by DepEd. The papers have been pending in his desk for a week now.
On January 15, the AFC team will inspect the Panaad venue for approval.
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on January 08, 2011.
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