Azkals looking for home venue for WCQ games

MANILA, Philippines — With Rizal Memorial Stadium closed off, the Philippine Football Federation is looking for an alternative home venue for the Azkals should the planned resumption of the World Cup Qualifiers push through in October.

PFF president Nonong Araneta said the federation is considering the PFF National Football Center in Carmona, Cavite and Biñan Stadium in Laguna as possible sites.

According to the Asian Football Confederation, the shelved matches in the WCQ will be played on Oct. 8 and 13 and Nov. 12 and 17.

Based on the proposed schedule, the Azkals will resume their bid at home against Guam on Oct. 8 and Maldives on Nov. 17. In between, they will play away in China on Nov. 12.

“Wala pa yung Rizal, ayaw pa ipagamit ng PSC. And since wala pa namang spectators and they won’t be too strict on the stadium requirements, Carmona or Biñan tayo, kung papayag ang Biñan,” Araneta told The STAR.

Biñan hosted the women’s competitions of the last Southeast Asian Games while the Carmona facility is the PFF’s training hub for the national team, having an international-sized FIFA turf.

Rizal, the original home ground against Guam and Maldives, isn’t a viable option for now as stadium manager PSC has stopped all activities until end of the year.

At the same time, the Rizal turf is situated near the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which is being used as a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients along with Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“We want to play the Guam and Maldives games in the Philippines, if everything is okay by that time,” said Araneta.

As to the road fixture in China, the PFF chief said if there are no travel restrictions or government prohibitions by then, the Azkals will have to take this trip.

“Kung itutuloy ng China at wala namang kaso or (travel) ban, dapat puntahan natin,” he said.

Araneta stressed that the WCQ restart is still “fluid” at this point.

“As of now, tentative schedule pa yung October and November. Hopefully by August or September we’ll have a clearer picture,” he said.