Homeless heroes: Azkals lose home game
IF PLANS don’t go awry, the Azkals will return to the site of their biggest win ever for yet another all-important match.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) told ABS-CBN that it has accepted Vietnam’s offer to host the “home” game of the Philippines against Indonesia in the two-leg semifinals of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.
“We have notified the (AFF) that the Philippines has accepted the offer of the Vietnam Football Federation as the venue of our ‘home’ game against Indonesia,” PFF interim president Mariano Araneta told ABS CBN news.
The Philippine team learned after their 0-0 draw with Myanmar that it wasn’t going to host the semifinal game. PFF President Jose Mari Martinez, who was ousted last Nov. 27 by the PFF Congress only to be reinstated by Fifa because of the failure of congress to comply with the 90-day notice, told the AFF that the Philippines didn’t have a suitable venue.
The players lambasted Martinez’s move in a statement.
The offer by the Vietnamese was relayed after the Myanmar game and Araneta said they have already informed Vietnam that they will be accepting the offer. According to Araneta, the AFF, which has already released a schedule identifying a 90,000-capacity stadium in Jakarta as the host of the two legs, is discussing the matter.
Meanwhile, the Azkals denounced the lack of support they got from Martinez, and the president’s giving up of the country’s right to host a home leg.
“We have not received one centavo of support from the PFF under Mr. Mari Martinez. Not to mention a call or a text during the final rounds of the 2010 Suzuki Cup...we, the national team made it to the semifinals for the first time in the 14-year history of the competition. And now, there is the matter of Mr. Martinez telling Asean Football Federation officials that we, the national team, cannot have our own game, that we fought so hard for, to be played in front of our countrymen. What a wasted
opportunity!” the team said in a statement.
Martinez, in an interview with a national daily, said no stadium in the Philippines passes the AFF standard. He also said he opted to have the two semifinal games in Jakarta for the players, saying they could get at least 50 percent of the gate receipts, which is expected to hit $400,000.
Philippine team manager Dan Palami wanted the home game in Panaad, which seats 20,000 and has 800 lights. AFF requires a stadium to seat at least 30,000 and have 1,200 lights.
According to Araneta, Charlie Cojuangco of the Negros Occidental Football Association was ready to remedy the situation. He also said AFF was also willing to look into the stadium’s capacity.
Araneta told ABS-CBN that the PFF appealed the AFF decision but was denied. He also said it is Martinez that the AFF is recognizing as president.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) told ABS-CBN that it has accepted Vietnam’s offer to host the “home” game of the Philippines against Indonesia in the two-leg semifinals of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.
“We have notified the (AFF) that the Philippines has accepted the offer of the Vietnam Football Federation as the venue of our ‘home’ game against Indonesia,” PFF interim president Mariano Araneta told ABS CBN news.
The Philippine team learned after their 0-0 draw with Myanmar that it wasn’t going to host the semifinal game. PFF President Jose Mari Martinez, who was ousted last Nov. 27 by the PFF Congress only to be reinstated by Fifa because of the failure of congress to comply with the 90-day notice, told the AFF that the Philippines didn’t have a suitable venue.
The players lambasted Martinez’s move in a statement.
The offer by the Vietnamese was relayed after the Myanmar game and Araneta said they have already informed Vietnam that they will be accepting the offer. According to Araneta, the AFF, which has already released a schedule identifying a 90,000-capacity stadium in Jakarta as the host of the two legs, is discussing the matter.
Meanwhile, the Azkals denounced the lack of support they got from Martinez, and the president’s giving up of the country’s right to host a home leg.
“We have not received one centavo of support from the PFF under Mr. Mari Martinez. Not to mention a call or a text during the final rounds of the 2010 Suzuki Cup...we, the national team made it to the semifinals for the first time in the 14-year history of the competition. And now, there is the matter of Mr. Martinez telling Asean Football Federation officials that we, the national team, cannot have our own game, that we fought so hard for, to be played in front of our countrymen. What a wasted
opportunity!” the team said in a statement.
Martinez, in an interview with a national daily, said no stadium in the Philippines passes the AFF standard. He also said he opted to have the two semifinal games in Jakarta for the players, saying they could get at least 50 percent of the gate receipts, which is expected to hit $400,000.
Philippine team manager Dan Palami wanted the home game in Panaad, which seats 20,000 and has 800 lights. AFF requires a stadium to seat at least 30,000 and have 1,200 lights.
According to Araneta, Charlie Cojuangco of the Negros Occidental Football Association was ready to remedy the situation. He also said AFF was also willing to look into the stadium’s capacity.
Araneta told ABS-CBN that the PFF appealed the AFF decision but was denied. He also said it is Martinez that the AFF is recognizing as president.
Comments