Azkals return to old home

MANILA, Philippines — After having Bacolod its home in 2005, football is returning to good old Rizal Memorial Stadium for the 2019 edition of the Southeast Asian Games.

“Phisgoc (Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee) has designated Rizal Memorial (as football site),” Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta said.

Rizal Memorial, though, needs to have some fixtures installed to make it ready for the SEAG’s most popular and widely-followed game. “It’s just a matter of putting individual seats and improving the dressing rooms but the lights are already there, the pitch is there,” the PFF chief said.

The Nov. 30-Dec. 11 SEAG will have its main competitions in Clark, with centerpiece aquatics and athletics and underwater hockey set at the soon-to-rise Complex in New Clark City. But Araneta explained it won’t be possible to hold football, which will feature a U-22 bracket, there due to required practice pitches.

“We need practice venues. Sa Clark wala; in Manila, we could use UP (University of the Philippines), UMAK (University of Makati), even the National Training Center in Carmona as training pitches,” he said.

Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna is also listed by the Phisgoc as football site, likely for the women’s hostilities.