I read this in pinoyfootball.com
Original Link..
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sport...llage-horizon-
A football village on the horizon
THE landscape of Cebu football is due for some expansive “seismic activity.”
According to Cebu Football Association (CFA) president Richard Montayre, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) picked Cebu as the beneficiary of the latest Fifa Goal Project.
“The Fifa Goal Project in Cebu will involve the creation of a football village,” Montayre told me during the DRB Football Jamboree last weekend.
As its centerpiece, the football village will have a 40,000-seater stadium with an international standard football pitch. The stadium will be surrounded by rows of regular and smaller-sized pitches, a field for beach football, covered courts for futsal, a structure for offices, lodging facilities, among others. As a sports tourism destination, the village will allow development for hotels and commercial structures.
Montayre’s description of the football village, which will be gradually built in phases, left me wide-eyed with wonder. Not so long ago, the idea would have been excessively ambitious, if not outlandish. With Fifa’s renewed belief in Philippine football and the no-nonsense approach of the PFF, football infrastructure in the country is slowly taking shape, and it makes sense that strategic Cebu will be part of such growth, starting with the football village.
But where exactly in Cebu would the football village rise?
The CFA is considering two areas. One is the Capitol property in Lahug, Cebu City currently occupied by the military’s Camp Lapu-Lapu, which is set to be transferred. The other is within a 350-hectare estate of the Aboitizes in Liloan town, some 19 kilometers from Cebu City.
Since it is situated in the heart of Metro Cebu, the ideal location appears to be the Lahug property.
Montayre said their proposal received positive feedback during the meeting between the CFA, represented by Eugene Ynclino, and Capitol last week.
In their initial talks, the Province is open to the CFA’s proposal to use and develop 15-hectares of the Lahug property for the project, at no cost to the government. After 25 to 30 years, the structures in the property will be turned over to Cebu Province.
Fifa funds will be used to build the field and stadium, but Montayre revealed that several private companies have expressed interest in taking care of the improvements, including the other facilities, as their way of contributing to the development of football.
Capitol and CFA representatives will schedule another meeting where Montayre will present the project’s site development plan.
“The plan is ready,” said Montayre last weekend, “I’ll show it to you.”
Montayre, though, had to fly to Manila yesterday morning to meet with PFF president Nonong Araneta and show him the plan for the football village.
“Okay si Nonong,” said Montayre of the plan.
Present in the meeting was Rafa Aboitiz, who, as company representative, offered the 15 hectares of the Aboitiz property in Liloan as site of the football village.
Montayre and Araneta asked if it was possible for the Aboitizes to donate the land to the CFA. Rafa, for his part, asked for details on the memorandum of agreement between Fifa and the property owner.
“Next week, Andoni Aboitiz will meet with the PFF to discuss the matter,” said Montayre, referring to Aboitizland’s chief operating officer.
The CFA president, who flew back to Cebu yesterday afternoon, earlier shared that Aboitizland was planning a “megacity” in their estate, and a world-class facility like a football village would provide a good “anchor” for the development.
However, the property will be open to private entities that are willing to lend a helping hand to develop and spend for the football village, which, in turn, should be made available to the football community.
Montayre said the CFA will present the plan to the PFF Board by month’s end, and then forward the Goal Project proposal to Fifa for fund allocation of at least $1 million.
In the meantime, the CFA is weighing the pros and cons between the Lahug and Liloan properties. It will be a tough decision to make.
Nice plan...I really hope na madayon..Imagine 40000 capacity stadium sponsored by FIFA.
Villaflor: A football village on the horizon
Originally Posted by ongkal
Reply With Quote
Posting Permissions
