Rizal Memorial Stadium

[rpbenchwarmer]

Rizal Stadium ready for Azkals vs Sri Lanka match
By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
Saturday, July 2, 2011

ALL lights on at the Rizal Memorial Stadium as it plays venue for the 2nd Leg of the 2014 World Cup Asian qualifying match on Sunday, July 3 between the Philippine Men’s Football National Team-Azkals and the Sri Lanka Brave Reds.

The newly renovated stadium has the seating capacity of 12,870 seats. This is less than the 16,000-plus seating capacity of the Panaad Park and Stadium here in Bacolod City, where the Azkals played for the AFC Challenge Cup in February 9, 2011.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has spent some Php 8.4 million for the renovation of this sports facility. “We worked on the seats, the bleachers section, the dugout, the media room, and the comfort rooms. Should we advance to the next round against Kuwait, we will play our home game on July 28 on this turf,” said Local Organizing Committee Chairman and PFF Treasurer Bonnie Ladrido.

Meanwhile, a seat-coding will be implemented at the stadium based on the ticket bought by a spectator. The tickets were sold at P200, P300, P2,000 and P3,000.

However, event media officer Rick Olivares said that as early as the first week of June, all tickets were already sold.

Some 2,000 tickets which supposedly the share of Sri Lanka for the match were returned last week but went on sale last Monday morning. However, thirty minutes later, it was sold out. “We’re doing what we can at the last moment to accommodate more fans,” said Labrido.

However, Olivares reminded those who want to watch the game that DSLR cameras or video cameras are not allowed inside the stadium. “There will be no depository area for cameras or bags. And not even backpacks or umbrellas will be allowed. There will be food stalls inside the stadium so don't bring any inside. If the weather isn't agreeable, raincoats are permitted but not umbrellas. Save yourselves from trouble. FIFA are strict,” he added.

On the other hand, some 400 seats at the center bleachers section have been allotted to the Kaholeros. This is the booster group tasked to come up with chants, cheers, and beats during the match. “We just wanted to introduce the basic beat where any chant can start,” said PFF Fan Management Committee Head Richard Joson.

Joson was the guy dressed up in a blue wig with face painted with blue and white running around the Panaad track during the last Azkals’ game in February. “The Blue-haired Freak was born that day,” said Joson.

The Kaholeros will be introducing a unique music instrument in the “aquadrum” which is actually a water jug used for coolers and dispensers. “It makes a unique percussion sound,” added percussionist Paul Zialcita, the man behind the beats. “If Africa contributed the vuvuzela to football lore, then the aquadrum is ours,” he added.

According to Olivares, as of yesterday afternoon, journalists and photographers from Sttutgarter Sportkurier, the British Broadcasting Company, Reuters, European Pressphoto Agency, Xinhua News Agency and Sri Lanka will be joining their local counterparts in covering the game.

Link: www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/sports/2011/07/02/rizal-stadium-ready-azkals-vs-sri-lanka-match-164561

[Filipinas50]

Took this photos today around 10:00 a.m. outside Rizal Memorial...

[cjeagle]

Rizal future site of soccer under lights
By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) Updated July 06, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (2)
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MANILA, Philippines - The Azkals’ home match against Kuwait slated July 28 at 7 p.m. could just well be the start of regular night football matches at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, which has been revitalized as a football site.

“One of the things we are looking at is the possibility of setting up a night football league at Rizal Memorial Stadium,” commissioner Jolly Gomez of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said during a recent inspection of the 70-plus-year-old facility.

“I think you’ll get more interest if games are played after work. We’ll try to explore this with La Salle coach Hans Smit and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and see what we can do,” Gomez added.

Site of some of Phl football’s most memorable scenes of yesteryears, the historic Rizal has undergone facelift to make it fit for major football events, such as the well-attended Azkals-Sri Lanka second leg in the 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifiers first round action over the weekend.

Rizal’s pitch renovated by De La Salle University in an agreement with PSC in 2009-10, while the PFF made some refurbishing of its facilities recently, installing individual seats, renovating the bathrooms and dressing rooms, and fixing the lighting system, for the Azkals-Brave Reds afternoon encounter.

With Rizal’s lights ready, the PFF has also tapped the venue for the return leg of the Phl-Kuwait second round series, setting it night.

PFF president Nonong Araneta welcomed the idea. “Night games, being relatively cooler than daytime games, could help draw more people to football. But we also have to consider costing since we’ll be using lights for those games.”

I wonder if they are doing this in conjunction with the UFL.

[cjeagle]

philboxing.com/news/story-57252.html

THE FIELD OF FOOTBALL DREAMS

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 09 Jul 2011



The superb showing of the popular Philippine Azkals in their smashing 4-0 victory over a hapless Sri Lanka team last Sunday in the second leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifier after being held to 1-1 draw on the rocky field at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, highlights the importance of a field that would help fulfill our nation’s football dreams.


Coach Michael Weiss as well as the players, many of them Fil-Europeans, felt so much at home on a beautifully laid out carpet of green that reminded them of the pitches in Europe and helped bring out the essential beauty of touch football with short, snappy, accurate pinpoint passes and accentuated quickness.

The ball didn’t bounce unevenly like it did on the rock hard surface in Colombo which affected ball control and forced the Azkals to engage in long balls and to hope for the best.

While De La Salle University’s agreement with former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping came under fire at the time it was consummated, the obvious soundness of the agreement now stares critics, including the Philippine Olympic Committee leaders who battled Angping all the way, in the face. The fervor of 15,000 fans including those who braved the rains last Sunday, the superbly laid out grandstand which was to the credit of the Philippine Football Federation under its president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta inspired the long nurtured dream for Philippine football.

Quietly standing on the touchline and supervising the complete reconstruction of the football field was architect Ike Madamba.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Inquirer, Madamba said the construction “took about two months but the growing period was about four months because you need really, really good water.”

Madamba explained that they needed “treated water otherwise water from the creeks meant you would need a different type of grass not Bermuda 419 which is a type of grass that you see on the fairways of the better golf courses.”

He said “the nicest thing about this grass is it’s easy to keep, easy to maintain. Once its gets hurt it grows right away.”

The soft-spoken architect stressed that they needed regular tap water and “you only need to irrigate it about 15 minutes, three times a day and one sprinkler head is about 17.5 gallons per minute. At P45 per cubic meter the monthly cost is about P60,000.”

When asked who will maintain the field Madamba replied “your guess is as good as mine” but expressed the hope that La Salle “keeps up to it.”

Stressing that any decision should be judged by the end product, Madamba said “we put a lot of heart into this and I hope La Salle will continue.”

Looking up at the totally refurbished grandstand with brand new and more comfortable seats, newly painted and numbered which was done in 28 days by the PFF, Madamba said “its fantastic.”

Reflecting on the tendency to build venues which are not maintained, with a few exceptions, Madamba said “I hope they keep it even just the turf. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears that went into producing something like this. Sayang naman if we neglect it because it doesn’t cost too much to keep it.”

Madamba lamented the corruption that has eroded even sports and stressed “I love doing these things because its about time. Our players deserve something better.”

He said when he built the first field at Xavier the kids were complaining why the ball was moving so fast and his reply was “you have to run faster” because it was "unlike carabao grass which they were used to. “

Madamba who is also constructing a similar field at Ateneo said “I hope this will carry on and will help our young men who deserve something better." He added "We have brought down the costs substantially and its now more affordable.”

_______________

Yup, like anything else in the Phiippines, maintenance is the key. Will the "ningas cogon" mentality allow this field to deteriorate. Hopefully La Salle, the PFF and the PSC picks up the tab for maintaining such a quality pitch. Otherwise this talk of future WC qualifying matches and night games will all go to waste.

[chicharito]

geez! DLSU always gets the 'love' from the construction of RMS. FYI, DLSU don't have the extra money for the RMS project. they borrowed from our office, LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES.

still, no 'football love' for LANDBANK

[b3lowzro]

who made the initiative for the improvement of the pitch? was it the landbank or DLSU?

[chicharito]

Jul 9, 2011 22:33:43 GMT 8 b3lowzro said:

who made the initiative for the improvement of the pitch? was it the landbank or DLSU?

sir, it was DLSU who made the initiative for the renovation of RMS pitch. but just like i just said, DLSU don't have the EXTRA money that time for the said renovation. thus, nangutang sila sa LANDBANK.

[Striker_Manager_and_Owner]

www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=727672&publicationsubcategoryid=69

Old Rizal complex to be sold for P5B?

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)[/b]


MANILA, Philippines - If things go on as planned, the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex will soon be up for sale.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia yesterday said there’ve been initial talks between the city government of Manila and the country’s top sports officials, and it looks positive.
“They are in agreement,” said Garcia, referring to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco.
As head of the government sports agency, which has full control over the RMSC and other government sports facilities, Garcia should also be part of the negotiations once they push through.
“It’s time we get out of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex,” said Garcia before the representatives of the different national sports associations (NSAs) at the RMSC badminton hall.
Garcia fully supports Cojuangco’s idea of relocating the hundreds of national athletes from the RMSC to a new training center they are planning to build inside the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
Once built, it will house the national athletes. There are also initial plans of building separate training centers in Tagaytay City and in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Sports officials believe that the RMSC, which sits on a prime 10-hectare property along Vito Cruz, is no longer conducive for training, with all the pollution and distractions around it.
At the estimated value of P50,000 per square meter, the sale of the RMSC can generate at least P5 billion.
“Once it is sold, we can share it 50-50 with the city. Then our share will go to the construction of a new training center,” said Garcia during the PSC-initiated general assembly among the NSAs.
“Hopefully this will happen soon,” said Garcia.
The idea to sell the RMSC, which was built in 1934 for the country’s hosting of the Far Eastern Games, was brought up by Cojuangco the moment he became POC president in 2004.
But the sale is easier said than done because it concerns a historic complex, also considered a national treasure. Once serious negotiations begin, the National Historical Institute may step in to the picture.
The RMSC, which was destroyed during World War II and repaired in 1953, has hosted big events like the 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games editions in 1981, 1991 and 2005.
During the general assembly, Garcia talked about the PSC plans and programs, and its accomplishments over the past year.
Garcia declared the cash-strapped government agency corruption-free, and drew a warm applause from those who attended, including PSC commissioners Jolly Gomez, Chito Loyzaga, Buddy Andrada and Akiko Thomson.
Cojuangco was also present as well as top POC officials Mark Joseph, Steve Hontiveros and Julian Camacho.
“After a year of putting things in order we can safely say that PSC is graft-free. Now we can say that payments to the NSAs and suppliers are made on time. We have avoided certain individuals from getting commissions or gifts,” said Garcia.
“Everything is transparent now. Everything is posted in our website and Facebook,” he added.

[Wiking]

I remember right after Martial Law, my pops used to bring me to RMC to watch him play tennis and so I can play with the "pulot boys". Back then the court was made of crushed seashells and most buildings weren't built yet. Some of the tennis courts resembled gladiator pits because of the arrangement of the seating. I dont know about selling the whole complex, one needs a sports venue within the city anyway and RMC is just that. Maybe they should just think of decongesting the complex or something, plus it is historically significant.

I'm gonna get flamed here but the "no corruption" thing. I just can't trust a career politician in Cojuanco. even now there are complaints in how he handles the POC.

[stellarboy]

Don't sell it! It's a historical landmark!

Find other ways to fund the new complex. Although the rational behind it does make sense, selling the Rizal Complex is just a bad bad bad move! Why not turn it into the country's main Sports Museum? We've had alot of brilliant athletes the past few centuries, it's time their legacies found a home. Our government keeps on doing things like this: selling historic landmarks for profit. Yes, change is for the better, but think of the history we'd be destroying if we sell this property? Some private firm is going to come in, buy it, destroy it, and then build some crappy looking high-rise condo whatever in it's place. Come on. Do we really want that?

And besides, La Salle committed to lease the pitch for 8 years and maintain it, and now comes down to this? Are we foreseeing politicians to gain advantage over the Azkals and the facilities that have honed them these past few months?

I'm afraid we'll be having a bad time for football if ever this happens.

[zansoccer]

No way; I pray this wont happen. They should improve it instead!

[Wiking]

PSC, Manila put up Rizal
Complex on auction block
BY BONG PEDRALVEZ

THE Philippine Sports Commission and the Manila City government have mutually agreed to put the 9.7-hectare Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on the auction block, with the sales income to be split evenly between them, PSC Chairman Richie Garcia announced yesterday.

"The PSC will use its share of the sale to build not one but several sports facilities and training centers for our athletes throughout the country," Garcia said during a briefing with National Sports Associations officials, athletes and coaches that tackled the sports agency’s accomplishments and future programs.

"We’ve already had offers from Clark, Tagaytay and Sta. Cruz, Laguna about our planned training centers," he added "because it is time to move our athletes out of the Rizal Memorial as a training facility."

While the PSC administers the pre-World War II government-owned sports complex that was built in the early 1900s, the Manila City government owns the lot on which the facility is based.

Asked what would be the base price of the Rizal Complex, which sits on prime commercial property adjacent to a mall and right behind the De La Salle University, Commissioner Jolly Gomez said it would be "around P10 billion."

Gomez based his figures "on a valuation of at least P100,000 per square meters and the fact the land area of the Rizal Complex is 9.7 hectares, or 970,000 square meters.

"With the expected P5 billion from the auction, the PSC could build several sports facilities for our athletes," Gomez said.

During the same meeting, Garcia reiterated the PSC would focus its efforts on priority sports "in keeping with the marching orders of President Aquino, who wants the PSC to channel its support and funds to sports where we can really truly excel because of our limited resources."

He repeated his warning to NSAs that they face budget cuts of as much as 50 percent next year if their athletes fail to do well in the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in November.

Garcia noted that since he and his board took over in July 2011, it now has P207 million in the bank compared to P4 million left by the previous administration.

www.malaya.com.ph/sep16/sports7.html

[cjeagle]

Some sports that don't have a big following like baseball, will be left without a home. Will they have any funds to build a basketball stadium, football stadium, a baseball stadium, a track and field stadium, tennis courts, Olympic size swimming pool, badminton courts, etc. with their half of the proceeds? I don't think so. Plus the view of the surrounding buildings around the field adds to the atmosphere during live telecasts. If we had extra funding from the govt. for all the sports, I am all for this as Rizal defiinitely needs some heavy duty renovation and it probably would be better to build new facilities but I am afraid that some sports will be left without a home. Besides didn't we just spend millions of pesos renovating the football stadium?

Plus as has happened in the past, whenever the govt. sells public property, military or civilian, a lot of the proceeds ends up in somebody's pocket.

[Wiking]

La Salle wants to buy Rizal complex

by Peter Atencio

MALACAÑANG has asked the Philippine Sports Commission to study La Salle’s interest in acquiring the 10-hectare Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz.

The offer was discussed when PSC chairman Richie Garcia met with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa last Wednesday.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco yesterday confirmed the latest effort to put the country’s aging sports facility into the care of the private sector.

La Salle is the latest among interest groups, which have sent feelers in acquiring the sports complex after four other corporate entities expressed their intentions last May.

Sources disclosed that the Lucio Tan group, Ayala Land, Henry Sy’s SM Group of Companies and San Miguel Corporation are the other companies seeking to buy the 10-hectare property, which has a current market value of P10 billion.

Cojuangco supports the idea of selling the sports complex since the proceeds will help in the acquisition of better facilities outside of Metro Manila and in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The POC chief believes that the complex is getting obsolete, too small and too crowded to hold national and international competitions.

However, issues of ownership between the national and local government must first be resolved before any sale can happen.

The ownership of the Rizal Memorial Complex grounds is being disputed by the national government and the City of Manila ever since it was donated by original owner Hermogenes Vito Cruz way back in 1934.

“There is a question who owns the property, the national government or the city government. If the City of Manila is in agreement, puwedeng matuloy ito (sale),” added Cojuangco.

www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSports.htm?f=/2011/september/23/sports2.isx&d=2011/september/23

[Wiking]

PSC, Manila disputing Rizal complex

THE City of Manila has plans of regaining ownership and use of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

But the Philippine Sports Commission is not willing to turn over the aging 10-hectare property to local authorities.

A provision in Republic Act 6847, the law which created the PSC, is keeping the government sports agency from doing so.

Section 23 of that law states that the administration and full control of all existing sports facilities, including land, buildings, and equipment owned by the national government, as well as those owned by government entities, rest on the PSC.

Malacanang has recently asked the PSC to study La Salle’s interest in acquiring the 10-hectare property and the sports body is currently preparing its reply.

The ownership of the Rizal complex grounds is being disputed by the national government and the City of Manila ever since it was donated by Hermogenes Vito Cruz in 1934.

But, the City of Manila, through Mayor Alfredo Lim’s chief of staff lawyer Herminio Bagro III, has forwarded to the Presidential Management Staff copies of transfer certificates signifying that the sports complex’s ownership has since changed hands in favor of Manila since April 14, 1936. Peter Atencio

www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSports.htm?f=/2011/september/24/sports5.isx&d=2011/september/24