Need for a good venue

The 6th Cebu Inter-Club Football Tournament showcases Cebu's ability to host a large-scale competition, but unfortunately, it also tells us that there is definitely the lack of a venue for events where the audience can be seated properly.

In my many years as a sports journalist and a sports fan, one of the major areas of concern for the people who follow the games is always their comfort.

Many years ago when most of the football games were played at the San Roque Parish field in Mandaue City, the fans would gather around the few trees seeking shade if not stay close to the back portion of the church.

During football festivals, people gather around the small fields blocking the view of others. The reason for such is not only that they'd want a closer look at their children who are playing, but the lack of bleachers where they an be properly seated.

We have long been dreaming of small areas where people can play football and the fans can sit and enjoy the game without having to worry of shade, and other basic amenities like a clean comfort room.

Up to now that is a dream. Well, we do have the Cebu City Sports Center, but playing football has been banned there during peak hours to prevent accidents. Also, the place is just so huge for the smaller tournaments.

With the plan to set up a football field in the South Reclamation Project almost becoming a reality, I'd hope that a provision to make the fans and supporters of the sport comfortable will be included.

These provisions of course need not be very expensive, but must be put in place.

Let us always bear in mind that aside from the players and the others directly involved in the games, there are also several other people who make an event successful and they are the parents and fans who troop to the venues to watch the competitions.

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The last time that I can remember sitting on the grandstand or bleachers to watch a football tournament in Cebu was when we hosted the national championships of the Coke go for Goal Tournament a decade or so ago.

The tournament was played at the Cebu City Sports Center, which made it quite comfortable for the people watching the tournament.

The past few years that I have again seriously spent at the field watching the games, many of my acquaintances and I have looked for ways to make things a little easy for us.

This is the reason why you see people carrying loads of stuff to the tournament venues like they were going on a picnic.

My favorite has been a folding lawn chair, which I have had for a couple of years and have served me very well. In fact, I am sitting on my chair now while doing this column since I am again at the football field watching my son practice at the Don Bosco Technology Center field.

Many others lug folding picnic tables and tents aside from their coolers containing food and drinks.

It's no joke carrying them around, which probably inspired me to write this piece.

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MILESTONES: My daughter, Nina Andrea, turned four last Monday and I'd like to wish her all the best.

I'd also like to ask our pious readers to pray for the soul of my father, Nonilon, whose 63rd birth anniversary we celebrated yesterday.

Happy birthday greetings also go to Mary Louise Laurel-Fernandez (May 2), Gilbey Cleopas (May 3), and Tirso Ramon Roa (May 3).