Fifa to install $.5M turf in Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has revealed that a new artificial turf will be installed by the International Football Federation (FIFA) in storm-ravaged Tacloban.

In a briefing, PFF president Nonong Araneta and general secretary Edwin Gastanes said FIFA president Sepp Blatter would lead the ground-breaking rites on Dec. 1 in Barangay Abucay, Tacloban.

The 105x68m turf is estimated to cost $500,000. Funding, according to the PFF officials, will be derived from FIFA’s special grant of $1-million for “rehabilitation of football infrastructure and facilities that were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda” last year.

Araneta said Blatter was touched by a documentary they showed him in which Tacloban kids were playing football amidst the destruction and gloom.

 “We didn’t even have to send a report. He just asked us for a copy of the video that he said he’ll show to the Fifa executive committee and now here we are,” said Araneta.

The PFF is leasing the land from a land owner for one peso a year for 20 years.

The turf will also be the nucleus of the PFF regional training center for Leyte/Samar region.

Blatter as well as execs from the Asian Football Confederation will likewise inaugurate and hand over the AFC Village in Barangay Libertad, Palo, to families who were victims of the deadly typhoon.The AFC built 27 houses to help in rehab efforts.

The Philippines will be the center of football activities this month as it hosts the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the AFC, highlighted by the Awards Night on Nov. 30 at Makati Shangri-La.