Iloilo optimistic on hosting SEAG's women's football

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Will Iloilo Sports Complex be the next venue of the 23rd South East Asian Games (SEAG) women's football? This remains to be seen not until the inspection team could visit the site.

The 25-man ocular inspection team from Thailand recently gave Marikina Sports Center a failing grade as the venue for the women's football in the 23rd SEAG forcing the  organizing committee to contemplate on transferring the event to other venues especially the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

This development gave Mayor Jerry Treñas and Gov. Niel Tupas hope that the Iloilo Sports Complex could be an alternate venue for the women's football.The two officials wrote Philippine Football Federation President Johnny Romualdez of the readiness of the city and province to host the event.

In their communication to Romualdez, the two officials said the football field at the Iloilo Sports Complex is one of the best and most well-maintained playing fields in the country.

A technical team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently inspected the playing field and found it in accordance with “international standards” except for a few minor deficiencies that are easy to rectify.

The two officials admitted that the only setback of the complex is that it has no daylight-quality illumination facilities. The daylight-quality illumination facilities cost millions of pesos.

However, Treñas and Tupas said Iloilo is most willing and ready to undertake the hosting for women's football in Asia's biggest sports event with the assistance from the Philippine Football Federation and Philippine Southeast Asian Organizing Committee.