PSC prepares Rizal for bigger Azkals match

MANILA, Philippines - While the playing conditions were perfectly all right, a few problems remain to be solved regarding the hosting of the next Azkals match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on July 28.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia said despite the heavy rains that fell on the Azkals match against the Sri Lankans last July 3, the pitch proved to be as good as advertised.

“In our report card, the field got a high grade, and it was all-weather. Despite the rains, you can see that when the players kick the ball, there was no splash,” said Garcia of the newly refurbished pitch.

The PSC chief thanked the Dela Salle University for shouldering most of the expenses for the work done on the football field.

“The spectators were happy. But it was far from perfect. There were some kinks that shouldn’t happen again. For us, it was a learning process as far as hosting a big event is concerned,” he said.

He mentioned a couple of things the PSC should work on in anticipation of a bigger match and a probably a bigger crowd when the Azkals play Kuwait for the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

“Since the next match is scheduled at seven in the evening, we need to work on the lighting, not actually in the field itself but in the perimeters, where the spectators would walk on their way out,” said Garcia.

“We need to light it up but we don’t need to spend much. There are lights in the nearby baseball field and all we need to do is refocus them to the walking area. Just to make sure it is well lighted.”

Garcia said based on what he saw, there was also a problem with the number of exit points especially the match.

“We had very limited exit points. We dread the day that if there was an emergency, people might get hurt because of a stampede. And there are lots of children watching the match,” he explained.

Over 13,000 came to watch the Azkals’ 4-0 win over the Sri Lankans, and demand for tickets for the next match should increase as it comes closer.

“We need safer exits. There was a huge bottleneck in the exit of the bleachers section through only one gate, the main gate of the PSC. Medyo delikado. The road was wide but not for a crowd that big,” Garcia said.

He also mentioned the need for additional comfort rooms or portable toilets on the day of the match.

Abac Cordero, Philippine Star