Dyan Castillejo and Raffy Santos,
abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals and the Los Angeles Galaxy will play in an exhibition match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium today.
It will be the last game of the year for the Azkals -- a fitting end to a year that saw a rise in the popularity of football in the Philippines.
The LA Galaxy, meanwhile, are coming off a successful season that saw them win the 2011 Major League Soccer Cup.
They will be bannered by superstars David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.
The Azkals will be led by homegrown players Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Edward Sacapano, and Phil and James Younghusband.
The Philippines will be missing the services of Europe-based players who still have commitments to their professional football clubs.
They include goalkeepers Neil Etheridge and Roland Muller, as well as midfielder Stephan Schrock.
Asia-Pacific Tour
The Philippines is the Galaxy's second stop in their 2011 Asia-Pacific Tour.
They won 1-0 in their first game against a selection from the Indonesia national team.
Galaxy players arrived in Manila Thursday afternoon.
Aside from playing in the friendly, LA Galaxy also held a football clinic for kids and had a practice session at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Friday.
At least 200 kids joined the clinic.
Galaxy players led by Beckham showed children passing and dribbling techniques.
Beckham enjoyed himself, frequently giving the kids high-fives and engaging them in conversation.
"The children out here today are incredible... it's amazing hoe positive the energy the children have. they're so happy," said Beckham.
Galaxy players proceeded with their own training after the football clinic.
Idols
For the Azkals, the exhibition game will be a chance to play against their idols, but they maintain they will be professional during the game.
"Pagkatapos ng game, pwedeng magpa-autograph, magpa-picture. During the game, kailangan professional," said striker Phil Younghusband.
Caligdong is looking forward to finding himself matched against Beckham, and says he hopes to learn a lot from the experience.
"Malaking challenge para sa amin. Maraming matututunan mula sa team ng Galaxy, especially David Beckham," he said.
Azkals team manager Dan Palami is hoping that the PH XI will be able to give the MLS Cup champions a tough test.
"Hopefully for the Team Azkals, we give them a good fight, para yung ibang teams, they will want to play against us kasi they will get a good session," Palami said.
Europe-based Azkals Rob Gier and Ray Jonsson arrived in Manila late Wednesday evening, and both said they were excited to face the LA Galaxy.
"It's just an unbelievable opportunity," Gier said. "If you told me a few months ago that we would be playing against David Beckham here in Manila, I would've laughed at you," Gier said.
Jonsson said that a win was possible, "if we play good defense."
The Azkals head coach Michael Weiss urged Filipino football fans to fill the stadium and cheer during the match.
"I hope they will come in masses. I hope the stadium will be sold out," Weiss said.
Discounted tickets
The ticket prices for the Azkals-LA Galaxy exhibition game range from P2,000-P15,000.
The United Football League (UFL) has offered fans a 35% discounts on all tickets.
People who still want to buy tickets to the game need to give the code #6987 when buying at Ticketworld outlets. The discount is not available when buying online.
Showing posts with label Rizal Stadium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rizal Stadium. Show all posts
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
LA Galaxy-Azkals tickets for Dec 3 match cost P2K-P15.5K
ELR/HS, GMA News
Organizers of the December 3 football friendly match between the LA Galaxy and the Philippine national football team have revealed that the least costly tickets will be priced at P2,000 while the priciest seats will go for P15,500 each.
The LA Galaxy is currently the top-rated team in Major League Soccer, the US professional league, and will be playing for the league championship against the Houston Dynamo on November 20.
The Galaxy's star player, British midfielder David Beckham, is having what may be his best season in his five years of playing in America after a stellar career in England's Premier League.
The LA Galaxy may be the most illustrious overseas professional team to play in the Philippines in years, reflecting the strides football has made in capturing the fancy of the Filipino sporting public.
P14,000 for kids football clinic with Galaxy
The Galaxy-Azkals tickets will go on sale via Ticketworld Thursday afternoon. The other ticket prices are P5,000, P9,500, P10,500, and P12,500. The announcement was made via Twitter and the Azkaleros official fan page on Facebook.
Detailed information on seat locations and their matching ticket prices will be available on the Ticketworld website also on Thursday.
Tickets will also be sold for the 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. open practice of the LA Galaxy on December 2. Prices for this are more affordable at P3,000 for the grandstand seats and P1,500 for the bleachers.
Slots for the football clinic with the LA Galaxy in the afternoon of December 2 will be limited to the first 150 kids who can afford the P14,000 inclusive of the jersey, shorts and soccer bag.
Tickets for previous international friendly matches of the Azkals at the Rizal Stadium ranged from P200 for the side bleachers to P3,000 for the lower grandstand seats.
Seating capacity at the venue has been set at 13,000.
On the microblogging site Twitter, comments on the prices of the tickets ranged from acceptance to rejection.
Organizers of the December 3 football friendly match between the LA Galaxy and the Philippine national football team have revealed that the least costly tickets will be priced at P2,000 while the priciest seats will go for P15,500 each.
The LA Galaxy is currently the top-rated team in Major League Soccer, the US professional league, and will be playing for the league championship against the Houston Dynamo on November 20.
The Galaxy's star player, British midfielder David Beckham, is having what may be his best season in his five years of playing in America after a stellar career in England's Premier League.
The LA Galaxy may be the most illustrious overseas professional team to play in the Philippines in years, reflecting the strides football has made in capturing the fancy of the Filipino sporting public.
P14,000 for kids football clinic with Galaxy
The Galaxy-Azkals tickets will go on sale via Ticketworld Thursday afternoon. The other ticket prices are P5,000, P9,500, P10,500, and P12,500. The announcement was made via Twitter and the Azkaleros official fan page on Facebook.
Detailed information on seat locations and their matching ticket prices will be available on the Ticketworld website also on Thursday.
Tickets will also be sold for the 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. open practice of the LA Galaxy on December 2. Prices for this are more affordable at P3,000 for the grandstand seats and P1,500 for the bleachers.
Slots for the football clinic with the LA Galaxy in the afternoon of December 2 will be limited to the first 150 kids who can afford the P14,000 inclusive of the jersey, shorts and soccer bag.
Tickets for previous international friendly matches of the Azkals at the Rizal Stadium ranged from P200 for the side bleachers to P3,000 for the lower grandstand seats.
Seating capacity at the venue has been set at 13,000.
On the microblogging site Twitter, comments on the prices of the tickets ranged from acceptance to rejection.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Azkals, UFL clubs play in charity event
Malaya Business Insight
A CHARITY football tournament featuring the Philippine Azkals and top United Football League clubs Global FC and Kaya FC will be held on Sept. 19-24 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Dubbed the "I Can Serve Invitational," the tournament will be a single-round event, with Azkals like Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Jason Sabio, Nate Burkey of Kaya and Misagh Bahadoran of Global playing for their respective clubs when they face the national team.
Proceeds of the tournament will benefit the I Can Serve Foundation, a non-profit organization helping raise awareness on breast cancer, Kaya managing director Armand del Rosario said in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave.
Joining Del Rosario in the public service program backed by Smart, Pagcor, Outlast Battery, Accel and Shakey’s was I Can Serve vice-president Crisann Celdran.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Celdran said the event augurs well for their activities next month.
A CHARITY football tournament featuring the Philippine Azkals and top United Football League clubs Global FC and Kaya FC will be held on Sept. 19-24 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Dubbed the "I Can Serve Invitational," the tournament will be a single-round event, with Azkals like Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Jason Sabio, Nate Burkey of Kaya and Misagh Bahadoran of Global playing for their respective clubs when they face the national team.
Proceeds of the tournament will benefit the I Can Serve Foundation, a non-profit organization helping raise awareness on breast cancer, Kaya managing director Armand del Rosario said in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave.
Joining Del Rosario in the public service program backed by Smart, Pagcor, Outlast Battery, Accel and Shakey’s was I Can Serve vice-president Crisann Celdran.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Celdran said the event augurs well for their activities next month.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Rains can’t stop Azkals’ game
by Peter Atencio - Manila Standard Today
RAIN or shine, the second stage of the World Cup Qualifying match between the Philippine Azkals national football team and the Sri Lanka Brave Reds will go on as scheduled.
WCQ Philippines general coordinator Cathy Rivilla said this yesterday after conferring with Philippine football officials on the conditions of the pitch at the Rizal Memorial Track Football in Vito Cruz.
“The field is playable. Only the referee can stop the game,” remarked Rivilla after she and Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta watched as heavy rains drenched the grass-covered playing area from the comforts of the stadium’s observation deck.
Rainwater, which flooded the surrounding streets of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, did not flood the pitch though and simply trickled down to the hidden drainage ditches around the area.
Rivilla, who was also accompanied by organizing committee chairman Bonnie Ladrido, expressed satisfaction over the way the pitch is taking on the rains.
“See the field? There is no pool of water,” added Araneta during a briefing with scribes, crediting the La Salle community for helping in the renovation of the pitch.
Constant monitoring of the field since the rainy season began, according to Rivilla, has allowed organizers to adjust to every contingency which would crop up.
Because of this, the pitch will also be recommended for use when the Philippine Azkals clash with Kuwait in their next home-and-away match this July.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Azkals suffered a 0-4 setback to FC Ingolstadt, a second division squad in Germany. It was their first loss in three tuneup games.
Fil-British goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was unable to deflect the German team’s last goal and accidentally scored an own-goal during a defensive play.
The Azkals will have one last game in Germany against third Division squad Darmstadt 98 on Friday.
They will fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday for the first leg of their FIFA World Cup group qualifier.
Meanwhile, a revamped Sri Lanka Brave Reds team promised to give the Azkals a difficult time when they face the nationals in their first encounter in Colombo on June 29 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
RAIN or shine, the second stage of the World Cup Qualifying match between the Philippine Azkals national football team and the Sri Lanka Brave Reds will go on as scheduled.
WCQ Philippines general coordinator Cathy Rivilla said this yesterday after conferring with Philippine football officials on the conditions of the pitch at the Rizal Memorial Track Football in Vito Cruz.
“The field is playable. Only the referee can stop the game,” remarked Rivilla after she and Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta watched as heavy rains drenched the grass-covered playing area from the comforts of the stadium’s observation deck.
Rainwater, which flooded the surrounding streets of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, did not flood the pitch though and simply trickled down to the hidden drainage ditches around the area.
Rivilla, who was also accompanied by organizing committee chairman Bonnie Ladrido, expressed satisfaction over the way the pitch is taking on the rains.
“See the field? There is no pool of water,” added Araneta during a briefing with scribes, crediting the La Salle community for helping in the renovation of the pitch.
Constant monitoring of the field since the rainy season began, according to Rivilla, has allowed organizers to adjust to every contingency which would crop up.
Because of this, the pitch will also be recommended for use when the Philippine Azkals clash with Kuwait in their next home-and-away match this July.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Azkals suffered a 0-4 setback to FC Ingolstadt, a second division squad in Germany. It was their first loss in three tuneup games.
Fil-British goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was unable to deflect the German team’s last goal and accidentally scored an own-goal during a defensive play.
The Azkals will have one last game in Germany against third Division squad Darmstadt 98 on Friday.
They will fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday for the first leg of their FIFA World Cup group qualifier.
Meanwhile, a revamped Sri Lanka Brave Reds team promised to give the Azkals a difficult time when they face the nationals in their first encounter in Colombo on June 29 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Azkals-Sri Lanka July 3 match tickets sold out
By Earl Victor Rosero GMA NEWS
Some of the reserved bleachers tickets can still go to lucky football fans who want to be at the July 3 2011 World Cup Asian qualifiers match between the Philippine men's national football team or Azkals and Sri Lanka, according to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) organizing committee Friday.
The fan management committee for the July 3 match said in Facebook posts, fans who are interested in joining the booster squad, nicknamed Kaholeros, may email their names and contact details to kaholeros@yahoo.com. About 200 Kaholeros will have reservations for seats at the white bleachers section.
Tickets for the match were quickly snapped up Friday. Bonnie Ladrido, chairman of the local organizing committee said, "We were caught off-guard. We didn't expect it to happen this fast."
Ladrido explained that the P200 tickets are "practically sold-out" because they had to set aside eight percent of the tickets, roughly 800, for Sri Lanka according to international football rules.
"If some of those Sri Lanka tickets will be freed, they will also be sold to the public," Ladrido said.
As of early Saturday afternoon, some of the pricier P2,000 and P3,000 grandstand tickets can still be had through Ticketworld.
Going, going, gone
The white bleachers tickets were gone within an hour after Ticketworld offered them via its website, at its ticket outlets in a bookstore chain and at other commercial areas. The white bleachers section is directly across the field from the covered grandstand.
Gobbled up next were the P200 tickets and then by mid-afternoon, the grandstand tickets that went for P2,000 and P3,000 were almost all gone.
Ladrido informed GMA News Online late afternoon Friday that "maybe only about 5 to 10 percent of the grandstand tickets are left."
Fans excited about PHL World Cup chances
Some fans, interviewed by GMA News Online while they queued for tickets, gave mixed reactions to the ticket pricing scheme.
Ernest Seña, a 21 year-old former national team junior golfer, said the tickets for the grandstand are "too expensive". He watched the Azkals game in Bacolod last February when all the tickets were priced at a flat rate of P300.
Seña said he had to see the Azkals play again because, "I have been a fan of football, not just the Azkals. This is the first chance since I was born that the Philippines has a chance to advance in the World Cup."
Marie Paat patiently waited in line while the Ticketworld outlet had to reboot its computer terminal as the ticket system coped with the flood of orders. She bought tickets as a birthday gift for her boyfriend, who she says is an Azkals fan.
"I'll be wearing blue because that is what the fans have been asked to wear during the match," Paat said.
Mia Montayre, who participated in a futsal summer camp recently organized by the Ateneo Football League, said the bleachers ticket prices "are fair because they are comparable to the prices for good seats for games of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP)."
Angelo Montibon also lined up for tickets. He plays FIFA on Playstation with some friends. "I'm eager to watch the game live."
PFF explains ticket pricing
In an earlier interview with GMA News Online, Ladrido said they reset to about 13,000 the number of tickets because they "want to avoid overcrowding at the stadium and also avoid over-selling tickets."
Ladrido also said the ticket prices reflect the fact that the PFF is basically shouldering the cost of renovating the stadium facilities "as its contribution to the efforts of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to support all sports in the country." He noted that other athletes and sports organizations also use the stadium.
The organizing committee head also said "Any proceeds left over from the July 3 match will be used to augment the budget for the grassroots, coaching, referee and other programs of the PFF. We also want some funds set aside for if and when lean times come."
Ladrido, who is also PFF treasurer, said the PFF "expects to receive about $300,000 to $500,000 this year from FIFA but $150,000 of that is earmarked for the grassroots program, coach development and training of referees."
The rest of the FIFA assistance will be for the acquisition of sports equipment and subsidies for the seven national teams to help them prepare for local and international competitions.
Stadium renovations
Preparatory work and clean-up of the Rizal stadium bleachers began Friday while the dismantling of the grandstand seats began early this week. "Work will also begin soon on the dressing room, media room and other facilities to make them meet specification of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Meanwhile, organizers said football fans will get to meet the "booster squad" at the Azkals' friendly game with an all-star selection of the LBC United Football League on June 5 at the University of Makati. That Sunday football match is a fundraiser organized by Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami and the UFL. Game tickets go for P100 each. - JVP, GMA News
Some of the reserved bleachers tickets can still go to lucky football fans who want to be at the July 3 2011 World Cup Asian qualifiers match between the Philippine men's national football team or Azkals and Sri Lanka, according to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) organizing committee Friday.
The fan management committee for the July 3 match said in Facebook posts, fans who are interested in joining the booster squad, nicknamed Kaholeros, may email their names and contact details to kaholeros@yahoo.com. About 200 Kaholeros will have reservations for seats at the white bleachers section.
Tickets for the match were quickly snapped up Friday. Bonnie Ladrido, chairman of the local organizing committee said, "We were caught off-guard. We didn't expect it to happen this fast."
Ladrido explained that the P200 tickets are "practically sold-out" because they had to set aside eight percent of the tickets, roughly 800, for Sri Lanka according to international football rules.
"If some of those Sri Lanka tickets will be freed, they will also be sold to the public," Ladrido said.
As of early Saturday afternoon, some of the pricier P2,000 and P3,000 grandstand tickets can still be had through Ticketworld.
Going, going, gone
The white bleachers tickets were gone within an hour after Ticketworld offered them via its website, at its ticket outlets in a bookstore chain and at other commercial areas. The white bleachers section is directly across the field from the covered grandstand.
Gobbled up next were the P200 tickets and then by mid-afternoon, the grandstand tickets that went for P2,000 and P3,000 were almost all gone.
Ladrido informed GMA News Online late afternoon Friday that "maybe only about 5 to 10 percent of the grandstand tickets are left."
Fans excited about PHL World Cup chances
Some fans, interviewed by GMA News Online while they queued for tickets, gave mixed reactions to the ticket pricing scheme.
Ernest Seña, a 21 year-old former national team junior golfer, said the tickets for the grandstand are "too expensive". He watched the Azkals game in Bacolod last February when all the tickets were priced at a flat rate of P300.
Seña said he had to see the Azkals play again because, "I have been a fan of football, not just the Azkals. This is the first chance since I was born that the Philippines has a chance to advance in the World Cup."
Marie Paat patiently waited in line while the Ticketworld outlet had to reboot its computer terminal as the ticket system coped with the flood of orders. She bought tickets as a birthday gift for her boyfriend, who she says is an Azkals fan.
"I'll be wearing blue because that is what the fans have been asked to wear during the match," Paat said.
Mia Montayre, who participated in a futsal summer camp recently organized by the Ateneo Football League, said the bleachers ticket prices "are fair because they are comparable to the prices for good seats for games of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP)."
Angelo Montibon also lined up for tickets. He plays FIFA on Playstation with some friends. "I'm eager to watch the game live."
PFF explains ticket pricing
In an earlier interview with GMA News Online, Ladrido said they reset to about 13,000 the number of tickets because they "want to avoid overcrowding at the stadium and also avoid over-selling tickets."
Ladrido also said the ticket prices reflect the fact that the PFF is basically shouldering the cost of renovating the stadium facilities "as its contribution to the efforts of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to support all sports in the country." He noted that other athletes and sports organizations also use the stadium.
The organizing committee head also said "Any proceeds left over from the July 3 match will be used to augment the budget for the grassroots, coaching, referee and other programs of the PFF. We also want some funds set aside for if and when lean times come."
Ladrido, who is also PFF treasurer, said the PFF "expects to receive about $300,000 to $500,000 this year from FIFA but $150,000 of that is earmarked for the grassroots program, coach development and training of referees."
The rest of the FIFA assistance will be for the acquisition of sports equipment and subsidies for the seven national teams to help them prepare for local and international competitions.
Stadium renovations
Preparatory work and clean-up of the Rizal stadium bleachers began Friday while the dismantling of the grandstand seats began early this week. "Work will also begin soon on the dressing room, media room and other facilities to make them meet specification of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Meanwhile, organizers said football fans will get to meet the "booster squad" at the Azkals' friendly game with an all-star selection of the LBC United Football League on June 5 at the University of Makati. That Sunday football match is a fundraiser organized by Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami and the UFL. Game tickets go for P100 each. - JVP, GMA News
Friday, May 27, 2011
Azkals’ match in Rizal Memorial stadium to be a full-blown fan experience
Mav C. Gonzales and Earl Victor Rosero GMA News
Didn’t fully enjoy the Azkals’ game in Pana-ad? Didn’t get to go to Bacolod at all? Just watched the match on television or Youtube?
Fret no more because the upcoming World Cup qualifiers match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium is bound to be a great experience for the fans.
The Philippine Football Federation wants to "create an atmosphere where the people will enjoy being there" at the home leg of the Azkals versus Sri Lanka series.
According to Bonnie Ladrido, chairman of the local organizing committee for the World Cup Qualifiers, the PFF will try to make fan shirts available so expect a sea of either blue or white across the newly-renovated stadium.
But more than the shirts and the comfier seats, what the fans should really watch for is the “booster squad" which will lead the crowd in cheering the Azkals on.
Memories and lessons of Panaad
“I was at the game in Panaad last February. The fans felt a little lost when it came to cheering for the team. Fan support for the Azkals is pretty much young, so the cheers could really be worked on," said football fan Joes Santos.
“But I really hope they don't use the theme song from Pinoy Big Brother again. It was as cheesy as it was annoying," Santos remarked.
The Fan Management Committee led by Richard “Ebong" Joson – the guy with the face paint and blue wig during the Panaad game – will put together the booster squad. It will be made up of about 50 people who will create organized cheers for the Azkals.
"Due to time constraints we are keeping our targets modest. I will be forming a booster squad that will be positioned en mass strategically at the bleachers section to lead the cheering and chanting," said Joson via a Facebook message.
Through some Facebook fan pages devoted to the Azkals, fans have been urged to bring empty 5-gallon, hard plastic water containers with flat bottoms. The idea is to use these large bottles to create sounds that will echo all over the Rizal stadium. Surprises are in the works, according to the fan page administrators.
The enthusiasm was definitely there in Bacolod. It just so happened that not everyone there may have understood how the game worked so there was room for improvement in the fan participation department.
“Well the crowd [mentality] at Panaad, just like the rebirth of Philippine football, is still in its infancy, gaining that atmosphere in stadiums all over the world," said hardcore football fan Quico Muñoz.
He said that hopefully, the crowd will refrain from using basketball cheers which they are accustomed to. The fans gathered at Panaad shouted “defense" whenever Mongolia had the ball.
Great expectations
Munoz suggests that the booster squad use Filipinized traditional football chants and songs.
“In my opinion we shouldn't use the moniker ‘Azkals’ in our cheers. Traditionally the name of the country is the one used," he added.
And the chanting is not just for the spectators. The players actually look forward to these cheers too.
“Sobrang saya at sobrang init ng pagtanggap ng mga fans sa amin and nakakatulong talaga siya sa aming mga players. Sobrang saya ko talaga na nakalaro ako sa harap ng libu-libong fans sa Panaad," said Azkal Ian Araneta.
While some may consider Panaad the home of Philippine football, Ian believes that they will get the same warm reception now that the game will be played in the heart of Metro Manila.
“Sa Rizal, sa tingin ko dudumugin din ng tao ang game namin ngayon pa na unti-unti na minamahal ng mga Pilipino ang football. Basta ang laban namin sa July 3 sa Rizal ay laban na rin nating lahat," he said.
The Azkals pledged to play their hearts out and behind them, there is going to be a huge crowd screaming at the top of their lungs.
Didn’t fully enjoy the Azkals’ game in Pana-ad? Didn’t get to go to Bacolod at all? Just watched the match on television or Youtube?
Fret no more because the upcoming World Cup qualifiers match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium is bound to be a great experience for the fans.
The Philippine Football Federation wants to "create an atmosphere where the people will enjoy being there" at the home leg of the Azkals versus Sri Lanka series.
According to Bonnie Ladrido, chairman of the local organizing committee for the World Cup Qualifiers, the PFF will try to make fan shirts available so expect a sea of either blue or white across the newly-renovated stadium.
But more than the shirts and the comfier seats, what the fans should really watch for is the “booster squad" which will lead the crowd in cheering the Azkals on.
Memories and lessons of Panaad
“I was at the game in Panaad last February. The fans felt a little lost when it came to cheering for the team. Fan support for the Azkals is pretty much young, so the cheers could really be worked on," said football fan Joes Santos.
“But I really hope they don't use the theme song from Pinoy Big Brother again. It was as cheesy as it was annoying," Santos remarked.
The Fan Management Committee led by Richard “Ebong" Joson – the guy with the face paint and blue wig during the Panaad game – will put together the booster squad. It will be made up of about 50 people who will create organized cheers for the Azkals.
"Due to time constraints we are keeping our targets modest. I will be forming a booster squad that will be positioned en mass strategically at the bleachers section to lead the cheering and chanting," said Joson via a Facebook message.
Through some Facebook fan pages devoted to the Azkals, fans have been urged to bring empty 5-gallon, hard plastic water containers with flat bottoms. The idea is to use these large bottles to create sounds that will echo all over the Rizal stadium. Surprises are in the works, according to the fan page administrators.
The enthusiasm was definitely there in Bacolod. It just so happened that not everyone there may have understood how the game worked so there was room for improvement in the fan participation department.
“Well the crowd [mentality] at Panaad, just like the rebirth of Philippine football, is still in its infancy, gaining that atmosphere in stadiums all over the world," said hardcore football fan Quico Muñoz.
He said that hopefully, the crowd will refrain from using basketball cheers which they are accustomed to. The fans gathered at Panaad shouted “defense" whenever Mongolia had the ball.
Great expectations
Munoz suggests that the booster squad use Filipinized traditional football chants and songs.
“In my opinion we shouldn't use the moniker ‘Azkals’ in our cheers. Traditionally the name of the country is the one used," he added.
And the chanting is not just for the spectators. The players actually look forward to these cheers too.
“Sobrang saya at sobrang init ng pagtanggap ng mga fans sa amin and nakakatulong talaga siya sa aming mga players. Sobrang saya ko talaga na nakalaro ako sa harap ng libu-libong fans sa Panaad," said Azkal Ian Araneta.
While some may consider Panaad the home of Philippine football, Ian believes that they will get the same warm reception now that the game will be played in the heart of Metro Manila.
“Sa Rizal, sa tingin ko dudumugin din ng tao ang game namin ngayon pa na unti-unti na minamahal ng mga Pilipino ang football. Basta ang laban namin sa July 3 sa Rizal ay laban na rin nating lahat," he said.
The Azkals pledged to play their hearts out and behind them, there is going to be a huge crowd screaming at the top of their lungs.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Azkals’ Manila venue to be upgraded for July 3 match
EARL VICTOR ROSERO, GMA News
This time the Azkals' home match will truly be at home.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has promised that the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium in Manila will be upgraded and ready a week before the World Cup Qualifiers match of the men's national football team or Azkals against Sri Lanka on July 3.
In December last year, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team suffered the embarrassment of not being able to play before a home crowd during its historic semi-finals matches against Indonesia in the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup season.
Instead the Azkals played in Jakarta twice and lost to Indonesia both times while playing before huge hostile crowds.
The Pana-ad Stadium in Bacolod was not yet international standards-compliant back then.
Two months later in February, Pana-ad was ready for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup home game of the Azkals against Mongolia. The fixed floodlights at Pana-ad were augmented with additional floodlights hoisted on huge cranes.
Stadia regulations of the AFC provide that the venue of a sanctioned match must have a floodlighting system able to maintain a “minimum average of 1200 lux". Lux is the intensity of light shining on a square meter of surface. The AFC also requires that the lights have an independent back-up power supply system that can maintain the needed light intensity “instantaneously and without interruption" in the event of a power failure.
Bonnie Ladrido, head of the local organizing committee, said the PFF will work with ABS-CBN, the local broadcaster of the July 3 game, on the needed lighting for Rizal Stadium. He adds that the broadcaster also has its lighting needs, so the committee opted to wait for their technical plan to avoid duplicating the broadcaster’s efforts.
He revealed that PFF and Philippine Sports Commission officials will inspect Rizal Stadium this week and confer on the progress of the renovation plans.
Last week, the Azkals had their afternoon drills and workouts at the Rizal pitch. At the end of their first session there, team captain Aly Borromeo said in a tweet, “Work to be done on the bleachers but surprised how nice the pitch is!"
Ladrido said the quality of the pitch, or the football field itself, is good, “We have to thank De La Salle University for that." The university, a stone’s throw away from the stadium, has been maintaining the pitch for the part-time use of its students.
As for the bleachers, Ladrido said they will be repainted and marked with seat numbers. All seats at the stadium will have assigned numbers.
The tickets go on sale through Ticketworld starting June 3. Football fans with tickets need not line up hours before the game because Ticketworld’s reservation system will assure them of seats.
The grandstand’s old chairs will be dismantled starting this week. There are also international standards for the seats. AFC stadia regulations provide, “Seats for spectators must be individual, fixed (i.e.. to the floor), separated from one another, shaped, numbered, made of an unbreakable and non-flammable material and have a backrest of a minimum height of 30cm when measured from the seat.“
Ladrido said production of the new fiberglass seats, like the ones in the grandstand of the University of Makati, is 30 percent done and ahead of schedule. About 2,000 of 5,000 of the grandstand seats will have back rests. The PFF will spend about P4.8 million for the new seats.
“Total capacity will be between 16,000 to 18,000 people depending on the final measurements the PFF and PSC using AutoCAD software," Ladrido said.
This time the Azkals' home match will truly be at home.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has promised that the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium in Manila will be upgraded and ready a week before the World Cup Qualifiers match of the men's national football team or Azkals against Sri Lanka on July 3.
In December last year, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team suffered the embarrassment of not being able to play before a home crowd during its historic semi-finals matches against Indonesia in the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup season.
Instead the Azkals played in Jakarta twice and lost to Indonesia both times while playing before huge hostile crowds.
The Pana-ad Stadium in Bacolod was not yet international standards-compliant back then.
Two months later in February, Pana-ad was ready for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup home game of the Azkals against Mongolia. The fixed floodlights at Pana-ad were augmented with additional floodlights hoisted on huge cranes.
Stadia regulations of the AFC provide that the venue of a sanctioned match must have a floodlighting system able to maintain a “minimum average of 1200 lux". Lux is the intensity of light shining on a square meter of surface. The AFC also requires that the lights have an independent back-up power supply system that can maintain the needed light intensity “instantaneously and without interruption" in the event of a power failure.
Bonnie Ladrido, head of the local organizing committee, said the PFF will work with ABS-CBN, the local broadcaster of the July 3 game, on the needed lighting for Rizal Stadium. He adds that the broadcaster also has its lighting needs, so the committee opted to wait for their technical plan to avoid duplicating the broadcaster’s efforts.
He revealed that PFF and Philippine Sports Commission officials will inspect Rizal Stadium this week and confer on the progress of the renovation plans.
Last week, the Azkals had their afternoon drills and workouts at the Rizal pitch. At the end of their first session there, team captain Aly Borromeo said in a tweet, “Work to be done on the bleachers but surprised how nice the pitch is!"
Ladrido said the quality of the pitch, or the football field itself, is good, “We have to thank De La Salle University for that." The university, a stone’s throw away from the stadium, has been maintaining the pitch for the part-time use of its students.
As for the bleachers, Ladrido said they will be repainted and marked with seat numbers. All seats at the stadium will have assigned numbers.
The tickets go on sale through Ticketworld starting June 3. Football fans with tickets need not line up hours before the game because Ticketworld’s reservation system will assure them of seats.
The grandstand’s old chairs will be dismantled starting this week. There are also international standards for the seats. AFC stadia regulations provide, “Seats for spectators must be individual, fixed (i.e.. to the floor), separated from one another, shaped, numbered, made of an unbreakable and non-flammable material and have a backrest of a minimum height of 30cm when measured from the seat.“
Ladrido said production of the new fiberglass seats, like the ones in the grandstand of the University of Makati, is 30 percent done and ahead of schedule. About 2,000 of 5,000 of the grandstand seats will have back rests. The PFF will spend about P4.8 million for the new seats.
“Total capacity will be between 16,000 to 18,000 people depending on the final measurements the PFF and PSC using AutoCAD software," Ladrido said.
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