Governor offers Azkals home field

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Philippines  – In the wake of the home field debacle affecting the Philippine participation in the AFF Suzuki Cup, the provincial government of Lanao del Norte is offering sports complex to be the new home field of the Azkals.

At the press conference launching the Lanao del Norte International Motocross Invitational, provincial Governor Khalid Dimaporo announced his offer to the Philippine football team and other athletes seeking a home. “I’ve always loved sports since I was in high school, the second-term governor revealed. “Soccer has always been very close to my heart.

It’s just that nobody played it here in the province. I would like to invite our football team to make the Mindanao Civic Center their home for competitions and training.” After the Philippines qualified for the Suzuki Cup semifinals, it was announced that the country would not be able to play at home because none of the football fields inspected passed international standards.

Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) Sports Complex has been home to PBA games, concerts, motocross races and last month, a national bodybuilding competition. Dimaporo says the 64-hectare facility would be a perfect place for athletes to train because it is far away from distractions.

“Without meaning offense to anyone, as a sportsman I am saddened that politics has ruined the passion of many athletes,” adds Dimaporo. “Here, I am just happy when people from all over the country – even just from all over Mindanao – are united in sports.”

Dimaporo has successfully staged many sporting events and festivals in the province. This weekend’s motocross event is the first time riders from other countries have come to the Philippines to participate.

MCC has a new football field and grandstand, a ten-thousand seat multi-purpose gym, complete weight training equipment, two swimming pools, a hotel, and a three-hectare permanent motocross track.