RMSC sealed off for Azkals match

MANILA, Philippines - All activities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) will stop for Sunday’s 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifying match between the Phl Azkals and Sri Lanka Brave Reds – even the siesta time of the national athletes billeted in the facilities.

The Philippine Sports Commission, which runs and controls the decades-old Rizal sports complex, has announced it is closing to the public the RMSC’s facilities such as the swimming pool, basketball court, track and field oval, bowling, gymnastics and boxing gyms to give way to the match that’s expected to draw some 14,000 people.

At the same time, the athletes and coaches living at RMSC have been required to “temporarily leave their quarters before 12 noon of July 3 and come back after the game.” The match is slated at 3:30 p.m. and is expected to last until about 5:30 p.m.

“Yes, the Rizal Complex will be closed to those with no tickets (to the match),” PSC chairman Richie Garcia told The STAR.

As to the “residents” of RMSC, Garcia said the PSC will provide them with complimentary tickets.

“The athletes in the dorm will be given tickets. We are just asking for their cooperation. I am sure, this is not too much to ask from our cooperative athletes,” the PSC chief said.

But this did not sit well with some of the occupants at Rizal, who practically decried a perceived special treatment accorded the popular Azkals, who are just starting to inch their way up the ladder in international play.

“What’s the logic with this? Do they feel the national athletes as security threats? Or are they afraid the Azkals will be mobbed by national athletes?” one coach, who requested not to be named, said in Filipino.

“Some of the athletes here are gold medalists in the SEA Games and then they will be asked to leave the premises just because the Azkals are playing,” an athlete said in Filipino.

The RMSC is “home” to some 150 athletes and coaches.