Sports: Panaad to Host Another Football Match in October

After a successful staging of FIFA friendly match between Philippine National Football team, Azkals and Matao’s Guam national men’s team which ended, 3-0 for the Azkals at Panaad Park and Sports Stadium, Panaad will be the venue again when the four-nation Long Teng Cu football tournament will be held in October 3 to 7, 2012.

Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Nonong Araneta reportedly has recom-mended Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City as site for its planned hosting of the four-nation Long Teng Cu football tournament featuring the Philippines, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Macau.

Instead of holding it in Manila, Araneta said they have decided to bring the Long Teng to Bacolod as the City of Smiles is more feasible in terms of financial require-ments. He said the hosting in Panaad, largely considered the birthplace of the Azkals, is estimated to cost P5-6 million, inclusive of food and accom-modation of the delegates plus match officials, and logistical requirements such as security. He amount, he said is lower than the estimate if it is staged in Manila.

An estimated cost in hol-ding the event in Manila is about P9 million, which includes P2-million plus on security alone.

While in Bacolod, the security is just about P300, 000 to P400, 000.

Another factor that swayed it to the side of Panaad is the availability of Rizal Memorial. Rizal Memorial Football Sta-dium is scheduled for conver-sion into an artificial turf beginning next month may not be finished in time for the tourney.

"We’re not sure if cons-tructions in Rizal will be finished by that time so I told the three (nations) that we’ll do it in Bacolod. We’re waiting for their approval because when they initially asked us to host, they mentioned Manila. But if they’re willing to go to Bacolod, then it’s a go," said Araneta.

Araneta said, they are already communicating with Chinese Taipei, Macau and Hongkong if they’re okay with it, then we’ll go ahead (with the Cup) in Bacolod.

The Long Teng Cup, or whatever the name the PFF will eventually use for the meet, should serve as one of the final build-up for the Azkals before they do battle in the AFF Suzuki Cup in late November.

The Long Teng Cup will be a good preparation for our actual team that will play in the Suzuki Cup, he said.

The Azkals placed second to Hong Kong last year in the single-round-robin format Long Teng Cup in Kaohsiung, a one-spot improvement from their third place finish in the inaugural edition in 2010, also in Kaohsiung.*