PFF to relocate to more complete Carmona HQ

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PFF to relocate to more complete Carmona HQ

by rick olivares

Philippine Football Federation President Mariano Araneta bared yesterday that the country’s oldest national sports association is looking to relocate to a “real House of Football” by sometime in 2017.

“Our artificial football pitch in Carmona, Cavite will be done this November,” shared Araneta who once donned the national team colors during his playing days in late 1970s. “The new facility will contain a dormitory, an artificial and grass pitch, our educational center, and of course, the corporate offices.”

Added Araneta who has held office since December of 2010 and will stay on board until 2018, “A lot of our current activities are held in our present PFF offices with the corresponding field activations held at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. That is quite a drive. So having our offices and training area in one location will make more sense. It will be farther though for where a lot of our people currently reside. That is the trade-off. But logistically, it will make sense to put everything there.”

The PFF moved into its present headquarters in Oranbo, Pasig in 2007 after holding office at the nearby Philsports Complex for a couple of decade. That current PFF House of Football was built with huge financial help from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association and was inaugurated during the local chapter’s centenary celebration that same year.

“Two months ago, we were in Cebu for the FIFA Forward Program and we are one of the first to avail of this,” shared Araneta. The world’s governing body for the sport has significantly increased financial support for member associations from US $1.6 every four years to US $5 million per four-year cycle.

“However, unlike before where it was given to all member associations, in the interest of transparency and good governance, all associations must submit very detailed plans, reports, and post-event findings.”

Araneta added though that the move is also contingent upon the sale of the currently property in Pasig city. “The monies accrued from the sale will also help fund the new facility,” said Araneta.