AFF official to Pinoys: You can host Suzuki Cup

JAKARTA – With or without the 15,000 seats, the Philippines can still host the finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup.

This was the agreement forged by Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella with Asean Football Federation competitions committee chairman Ravy Khek here yesterday.

“We shook hands on this,” said Puentevella, who flew in from Manila way past midnight of Wednesday just for this purpose.

Khek said after his meeting with the former congressman from Bacolod that yes, there’s a very big possibility of the matches being held in the queen city of the south.

“There’s still enough time for you to host the finals. I talked to congressman Puentevella about this. There are only three things we’re asking for – lighting, security and live broadcast,” said Khek.

But that’s if the Philippines gets lucky against Indonesia, its semifinals opponent.

To meet the AFF standards, a venue must have 1,200 luminous lights because under the contract with sponsors, all matches are to be held in the evening because it’s primetime on television.

The Panaad Stadium, which hosted the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, the AFF qualifier in 2006 and the Asian Women’s Championship in 1999, only has 500 luminous lights.

But things can be worked out in just a couple of days, Puentevella assured.

Khek said there’s really no requirement regarding the number of seats although there have been reports that a host venue needs at least 15,000 numbered and reserved seats to get the AFF nod.

“No,” said Khek, “you don’t need 50,000 seats or 80,000 seats like this one in Jakarta. We really don’t need a big stadium as long as it fits football, it has adequate security and live broadcast capability.”

He said there’s an ongoing re-assessment of the Bacolod venue, but in case it fails anew, then the Philippines can still look forward to hosting the group stage of the next AFF Suzuki Cup in 2012.

“Your hosting of the next group stage is a great possibility. You have a very strong chance because we want all members be given the chance to host. I think in two years you can do it,” he said.

He said the failure of the Philippines to host one of two semis matches against Indonesia was not anybody’s handiwork.

“As committee chairman I had the chance to assess the venues in the Philippines but all three stadiums had problems. I was there when Bacolod hosted the AFF qualifier. I know its strengths and weaknesses,” said Khek.

The other venues that were considered were the one within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and University of Makati football field.

The AFF official also said the federation is outside looking in as far as the leadership dispute within the Philippine Football Federation is concerned.

Jose Mari Martinez continues to enjoy the recognition of FIFA, the world governing body in the sports, although last November he was ousted as PFF chief, with 26 of 33 provincial associations going for Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

Martinez is here for the Suzuki Cup, and is staying in the same hotel where the 34-strong Philippine delegation is billeted. But there’s a clear distance between him and members of the team. They don’t see eye to eye.

“As the AFF we have to recognize the FIFA stand of status quo and that means Jose Mari Martinez is still your president. But the rule of democracy is always important,” he said, hinting at the obvious.

“It’s the interest of the majority that should prevail and not the interest of the minority. It’s always the same thing. Like in Cambodia in 2008 the Philippines did not qualify because the team was not together. But here you have the opportunity to go further,” said Khek.

And again, yet again, it seems that Filipino football officials can’t put their act together.