Mini-football tourney marks Rizal Stadium inauguration

MANILA, Philippines – The Rizal Memorial Football Stadium's brand new P19-million artificial turf will be inaugurated on Saturday with a "Mini Football World Cup" featuring four teams of mostly underprivileged kids.

According to Philippine Sports Commission executive director Guillermo Iroy, the embassies of Chile and Argentina will field the football teams from their sponsored/adopted communities while the PSC will enter two squads from its "Laro't Saya Sa Luneta" program.

"PSC chairman Richie Garcia wants underprivileged kids and those usually who don't have the privilege to play in a world-class pitch to be the first ones to use Rizal's new pitch," Iroy said.

Officials from Chile and Argentina, nations that have sports agreements with the PSC, have thrown their support to the opening, led by Monica Deregibus, charge d' affaires and acting Ambassador of Argentina and Guillermo Devoto, minister counselor, and Fernando Vila, chef de mission of Embassy of Chile.

Executives from the PSC, led by chairman Richie Garcia and Commissioner Buddy Andrada, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Football Federation are also expected to attend.

The PSC, which manages the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, said the new turf will be ready to host major football events like home matches of the Azkals.

"We want to let everyone know that we have our own football field which can be the site of big tournaments both international and local," Garcia said.

At the same time, the PSC chief said they intend to take advantage of existing sports pacts with football powers like Chile and Argentina to help develop the beautiful game in the country.

“We already have MoUs with countries that are very well-known in the sport of football. We plan to have clinics, seminars and trainings (in cooperation with them) to improve our grassroots development in football while also looking for possible hosting of major international events or even invite teams for a week-long league,” Garcia said.

This early, Rizal is being eyed as venue for the third edition of the Philippine Football Peace Cup, an invitational tourney that the Azkals have ruled twice.

The Azkals, as well the other national football teams, will have their own training center and practice turf by next year in Carmona, Cavite. The PFF is building the facility under the Goal 3 Project of the  International Football Federation.