THE Rizal Memorial Stadium will soon be open to football events once again with its new artificial grass.
The construction work that began last January has been completed on Wednesday, according to Esports International, the contractor tasked by the Philippine Sports Commission to refurbish the field.
Acoustoscan, an Australia-based sports surface and sports testing laboratory, has tested the field on Thursday as part of the process of getting the field certified to FIFA standards that would allow the stadium to host international tournaments once again.
PSC chairman Richard Bachmann said the refurbishing of the football field is part of the government agency’s projects to improve the sports facilities that it controls.
“Thank you to everyone involved in raising and ensuring the excellent standard of our facilities,” Bachmann said in the official unveiling of the new surface on Thursday. “Let us continue to vision a high quality service that all Filipinos athletes deserve.
“On a personal note, when I did get here as PSC chairman two years ago when I went around the facilities, especially this one, I told myself that I have a lot of work to do and I promise to fix facilities. And this is one step,” said Bachmann, who added the contract price of the refurbishment is at P16 million.
High standards for Rizal Memorial
The two entities involved in the refurbishment of the facilities assures the high quality of the field.
“When we do a certain facility, we make sure that we think of the athlete that they can train properly, that they can become international athletes, and at the same time, we want to protect the investment of the client,” said Esports International managing director Audriz Romualdez.
Acoustoscan international director Anthony Apparailly said the field has several features including a shock absorber that will prevent major injuries to players.
“Everything we have seen here is compliant. We are very happy with the field… We have absolutely no concern with this field. We took some samples and we’re going to send it to our lab. And within maximum amounts, you will have an official certificate,” said Apparailly, who added the certification could come within a month.
Most observations by players and coaches about the old field at Rizal was that it was harder. But based from the initial tests by Acoustoscan, the new surface is a total opposite.
Esports International has also provided equipment for the maintenance of the field that will help in making it in pristine condition.
“It’s safer, like you will not have injuries. If you fall, you will not break your arm or your legs or whatever. The problem with natural grass tends to be harder, plus the natural grass requires a lot of water. So if you don’t use the water, then it gets very hard. This one, you don’t need water,” said Apparailly, who added that the field will have to be brushed using the maintenance equipment every after 40 hours of use.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
