MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and ABS-CBN have signed a partnership that will allow the broadcast firm to air the national football team’s games against Mongolia and in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup should the Azkals advance. PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and the giant TV network announced their formal partnership on Monday beginning with the Azkals match against Mongolia on Feb. 9 at the Panaad stadium in Bacolod City.
“We want to thank ABS-CBN because I think with this partnership, we can now compete with the country’s No. 1 sport, which is basketball,” Araneta said in a press briefing at the ABS-CBN compound.
But Araneta qualified that this will only happen if the Azkals’ success continues.
“We are off to a good start and this (partnership with PFF) would be the breakthrough Philippine football could enjoy for years to come,” said Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN vice president for Sports, who was present during the contract signing alongside Azkals team manager Dan Palami and new coach German Michael Weiss and members of the Azkals.
Weiss, 43, who succeeded Briton coach Simon McMenemy, believes the team can help boost the popularity of the sport if they win the match handsomely.
“I expect to see an attacking team on the pitch,” Weiss said. “We’re not underestimating Mongolia, but we don’t want a 1-0 match (win). We will be an offensive-oriented team.”
“We hope to push up the line a little forward and put their (Mongolians) defense just 30 meters from the goal,” said Weiss who formerly handled the national team of Rwanda.
The highly-anticipated match will be held at the 15,500-seater Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City and Araneta said tickets have been selling briskly.
He said 4,000 seats have been sold at P300 each. The 10,000 general admission seats will be free of charge and will be released a day before the competition. There are 2,000 reserved seats for the VIPs that may include President Aquino.
Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin
