PFF National Training Centre
The PFF National Training Centre or the National Football Center is an association football training ground at the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite.
| |
| Location | Carmona, Cavite Philippines |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 14°17′41.7″N 121°02′19.9″E |
| Owner | Manila Jockey Club |
| Operator | Philippine Football Federation |
| Type | Sports facility |
| Capacity | 1,000-1,200 |
| Surface | Artificial grass Natural grass (planned) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 30 November 2014 |
| Opened | 9 September 2017 |
| Tenants | |
| PFF Women's League Philippines Football League (alternate venue for clubs) Philippines men's national football team (planned) Philippines women's national football team | |
| Website | |
| http://www.manilajockey.com/ | |
History
Plans to construct a football facility in Carmona, Cavite was announced as early as June 2014. The Philippine Football Federation signed a lease agreement for rights to a land occupying an area of 2 hectares (4.9 acres) to build a training center, initially announced to be called as the National Teams Training Center, to be built under the $500 thousand dollar FIFA Goal Project 3.[1]
The groundbreaking ceremony for the facility located within the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park of the Manila Jockey Club was held on 30 November 2014 and was led by then FIFA President Sepp Blatter. It was projected to be complete by 2015[2] but the facility was inaugurated two years later.
The facility was formally inaugurated on 9 September 2017[3] which included the turnover ceremony of its main field, the FIFA Football Turf. After the launch the first two football matches were held in field. The first women's football match held in the field was a friendly between the University of the Philippines and the De La Salle University[4] while the first men's football match was an official Ang Liga pre-season match between the San Beda College and the Ateneo de Manila University. The former secured a 3-0 win over the latter. On the same day the groundbreaking ceremony for a new PFF House of Football within the center was made.[3]
Football fields
FIFA Football Turf
The training center hosts an international-sized artificial turf, the FIFA Football Turf which is accredited with a FIFA two-star field rating.[4] The pitch of the artificial pitch was by United States firm, ATC Global and has a dimension of 105 x 68 m (344 x 223 ft). Upon its inauguration the seating capacity of the FIFA Football Turf is about 1,000 to 1,200.[3] Earlier in 2014, plans of a viewing area of about 20,000 to 30,000 capacity was reported.[2]
Lighting towers with an intensity of 900 lux is planned to be installed by the end of 2018. There are plans to convert the pitch into a stadium.[5]
Other pitches
Two miniature artificial turfs measuring 40 by 20 meters (131 ft × 66 ft) will be installed beside the main football pitch which are meant for recreation use and hosting of festival competitions. Likewise the grass area in the middle of the Manila Jockey Club's racetrack is also planned to be converted into a football field.[5]
Use
The facility is planned to serve as the training ground of both the men's and women's national football teams of the Philippines. Both senior and youth teams will utilize the facility. [1] Within September 2017, the Youth Football League plans to hold their matches at the center.[3]
The center hosted matches of the second roundof the 2017 PFF Women's League.[6] The venue also hosted a Philippines Football League match between Meralco Manila and Ceres-Negros on November 24, 2017. The match is designated as a home game of Meralco Manila but the club's designated venue, the Rizal Memorial Stadium is unavailable at the given date due to reservation by the NCAA.[7] The women's national team used the venue in March 2018 as part of their preparation for their 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup stint.[8]
Ownership
The Manila Jockey Club leases the land where the facility stands to the Philippine Football Federation.[4]The PFF has leasing rights to the land which is valid until 2039.[2]
References
- Leyba, Olmin (19 June 2014). "PFF to build Azkals training facility". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- Lopez, Joshua (1 December 2014). "Football training center for national teams now being built in Cavite". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- Guerrero, Bob (11 September 2017). "PFF inaugurates new artificial football pitch in Carmona". Rappler. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "PFF Holds Turnover of FIFA Football Turf Field". Philippine Football Federation. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "PFF President Nonong Araneta reveals exciting times ahead for Philippine football". ABS-CBN Sports. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- "PFF Women's League Second Round Kicks Off This Weekend". pff.org.ph. Philippine Football Federation. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Crucial Manila-Negros clash to be held at PFF's new Carmona bas". Dugout Philippines. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- "Women's Asian Cup Preparation In Full Swing". Philippine Football Federation. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.