With condition, FIFA willing to upgrade PSC football field

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

MANILA, Philippines � With a 15,000 to 18,000 sitting capacity, the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City is the country�s only venue fit to host major international football tournaments.

If plans push through, there could be another one.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said it is looking at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City as the other venue except that the place has to be upgraded to meet international standard especially in the matter of sitting capacity.

PFF president Mariano Araneta said to host at least Southeast Asian level tournament, a football stadium should accommodate at least 15,000.

The Philsports Arena falls short of that standard as it can accommodate only 10,000.

Araneta said the International Football Federation has offered to help the Philippines build another stadium that can meet international standard, but with one condition: The venue must be used exclusively for football.

In this regard, FIFA said that if Philippine sports officials can accept the condition, it was willing to give the football association as much as $500,000 (about P21.5 million) to realize the project.

Araneta said he will open talks with the Philippine Sports Commision regarding the proposal. The PSC operates the Philsports complex as well as the Rizal Memorial complex and some other venues.

�FIFA can only provide us that grant if ULTRA (fomer name of PhilSports) will be used exclusively for the football and not for other sports,� Araneta said yesterday. �So, for everything to happen we have to talk to the PSC about it.�

Araneta will meet PSC chairman Richie Garcia today when Garcia presides a meeting with the 41 heads of the national sports association.

Manila Bulletin