Tickets to Azkals vs. Sri Lanka match on sale next month

Tickets for the World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) home match between the Philippine Azkals and Sri Lanka at the Rizal Stadium will be on sale starting June 3, one month before the scheduled match.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) released the ticket prices that ranges from P3,000 to P200.

Unlike in Panaad Stadium where the public watched the AFC Challenge Cup Philippines-Mongolia match for free, the PFF will collect payment for the Azkals match against Sri Lanka to defray the cost of the renovation of the Rizal Stadium.

“The prices reflect the fact that the PFF will be footing the bill for refurbishing the stadium,” Ladrido said in an inquirer.net report.

According to Bonnie Ladridol, PFF treasurer and a member of the organizing committee, some 8,000 tickets located at the bleachers behind the two goals will be sold at P200 each. About 5,000 prime seats at the main grandstand will cost P3,000 and P2,000 each while 4,950 tickets for the seats near the non-covered bleachers area will be sold at P300 each. Tickets will be available through Ticketworld.

At least P6-million is needed by PFF for the repair of the grandstand, the turf, construction of dressing and media rooms. PFF said they will foot the bill for the renovation of the 76-year old stadium.

Daily trainings

Now on their second week of training, the Azkals conduct daily two-hour practice sessions in the morning and afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Stadium and the Alabang Country Club. Coach Hans Michael Weiss said the team aims to develop their speed, movement, strength and stamina in preparation for their game on June 29 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The national team is set to proceed to Tacloban on May 21 to 22 for the closing program of the Football Summer Camp program while on May 24, the team will play a friendly tune-up match against the Centralians, the team of the Central Philippine University International School in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. The Azkals will be in Iloilo on May 23 to 25 for a 3-day training while on on May 25 until May 30, the team will be in Cebu for team building at the Plantation Bay.

Joining the Azkals’ training are Fil-foreigner players who aspire to join the national team – Misagh Bahadoran, Chad Gould, Nate Burkey, Leigh Gunn, James Rochilitz, OJ Porterio and Neil Ignacio.

Side tracked by other committments

Azkals co-skipper Chieffy Caligdong admitted that the players’ individual commitments make it hard for them to focus on training.

Coach Weiss, meanwhile, said he will “put the Azkals on a tighter leash and make them 100 percent focused on training for the World Cup Asian Qualifier match with Sri Lanka.” He said, “we need to get the players in, we need to get better organized. We need especially the help of the clubs because there are too many matches now, so the players are distracted and exhausted because there’s no time for relaxment (relaxation),” Philstar.com posted.

Fil-British goal keeper Neil Etheridge and Simon Greatwhich will join team later this month.
On June 12, the Azkals will fly to Duren, Germany for a two-week training camp where they will play against Division 2 and 3 Bundesliga teams as part of their preparation.