An offer of assistance from San Miguel Corp. helped the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to agree that the coming match between the Philippine Azkals and Sri-Lanka in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) be held at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Sports commissioner Chito Loyzaga, would not divulge what kind of assistance the giant food and beverage conglomerate has offered, except that Philippine Football Federation (PFF) through its president, Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, advised the PSC of the forthcoming SMC assistance.

“The PFF, in fact, has requested us that its representatives and those of SMC be given permission to make an ocular inspection of the Rizal Stadium, which we granted,” Loyzaga said in Friday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant.

“Since they are asking that they be allowed to inspect the venue, I surmised that SMC is willing to shoulder the expenses in making the stadium meet the standard set by FIFA (International Football Federation),” Loyzaga said.

“For us in the PSC, we welcome that because if the field can be converted into an international standard stadium, it would be very good. That really is our target, to improve the standard of the stadium. If that happens, not only football will be benefitted but other sports as well and we will be able to host other events as well,” Loyzaga said.

Bacolod City was also bidding to stage the game at the Panaad Stadium.

PSC chair Richie Garcia, a Bacolodnon, quoting findings by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), even declared the Rizal Stadium, as condemned. Rizal Stadium was built in 1934.

Loyzaga also told his SCOOP audience that the field itself is ready and that what would be needed is to install individual seats in the covered area of the stadium.

The scoreboard should also be repaired in accordance to the standard set by FIFA,” he said.

“And I think SMC would be amenable to install those that are needed,” Loyzaga, himself a former SMC executive before accepting the PSC commissioner post, said.

A meeting with SMC representative Noli Eala and himself is set Monday next week to determine that role the corporation will play.

Loyzaga allayed fears that renovation of the stadium will have an adverse effect on the memorandum of agreement signed between the previous PSC administration and La Salle in regards to the use of the venue where La Salle spent some P8 million to transform the 1934 built track-football stadium to a first class football venue.

“Na-settle na yung issue na yun. We have given La Salle access to the stadium at specific hours of specific days, so I don’t see any problem there,” he said.

“Besides, plans are to also renovate the ULTRA football field for the use of La Salle,” he said.