‘CCSC football field needs improvement’

Philippine Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said more work is needed on the football field of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) ahead of the Nov. 15 international friendly match between the Philippine Azkals and the Singapore Lions.

Weiss was in town yesterday to inspect the CCSC football field and to visit the football clinic organized by the Outstanding Youth for Education, Entrepreneurship & Arts-Minglanilla (O!YEEA) and handled by the Cebu Queen City United Football Club at the Minglanilla Central School.

According to the Azkals coach, the field should be more even for the upcoming game put up by the Cebu Football Association (CFA).

“The field needs to be more flat especially that we are looking into the team’s positioning. We want to play more ground football rather than the old style,” Weiss said.

He said with four weeks to go before the match, there is still time to correct the evenness of the field.

Weiss said that right now, the CCSC football field is similar to that

of the Panaad field in Bacolod.

“The location is okay, you have a good capacity for spectators, although we wish it were bigger.”

Weiss said he doesn’t expect the field to be perfect but it should be in good level especially that this will gauge Cebu’s preparedness in hosting future international matches.

Weiss also doesn’t seem to favor the carabao grass since most football players don’t like playing on it but he said the important things right now is to have a really flat pitch.

Weiss also inspected the locker and shower rooms and was assured that the CFA will be working round the clock for the comfort of both teams.

He pointed out the renovated Rizal Memorial Stadium as a good football field model for those wanting to put up a football field in other parts of the country.

He said the lack of infrastructure in the country is a factor that’s keeping the team from the top 20 in Asian football.

This month, the Azkals improved to No. 21 in the Asian Football Confederation list and No. 3 in the AFF rankings.

Weiss said that we need to catch up in the infrastructure to be in the league of the above level teams.

Meanwhile, Rico Navarro of the CFA, said that about 40 percent of the tickets were already sold since ticket sales was opened last Wednesday.

Aside from online sales, the 40 percent include over-the-counter sales here in Cebu, Consolacion, Tarlac, Davao and SM Megamall in Manila. Navarro said there are still about 3,000 tickets available.