PFF accepts VFF offer to host ‘home’ game in Ho Chi Minh

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has accepted the Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) offer to host the “home" game of the Philippines-Indonesia semifinal match in the AFF Suzuki Cup on December 16 in Ho Chi Minh. “We have notified the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) that the Philippines is accepting the offer of the Vietnam Football Federation as the venue of our ‘home’ game against Indonesia," PFF president Mariano Araneta said. “We also notified the VFF beforehand that we are graciously accepting its offer to host this match at a neutral venue," said Araneta, who added that the federation was now awaiting the AFF’s reply as of press time. Araneta said that the decision to agree to Ho Chi Minh as the “home" venue was done in consultation with national men’s team manager Dan Palami, who announced the offer Wednesday night at a press briefing shortly after the squad arrived in Manila. “VFF president Nguyen Trong Hy flew all the way to Hanoi before we left to inform us that Ho Chi Minh is available for our ‘home’ game against Indonesia. The VFF offer was very generous" said Palami, who added that the VFF agreed to shoulder the expenses of the entire contingent during their three-day stay in the city formerly known as Saigon. Palami said he was pleasantly surprised by the VFF chief’s offer, considering that the Filipinos scored a 2-0 upset win over reigning champion Vietnam in the just-concluded Group B tournament held in Hanoi. Despite the loss, Vietnam still emerged Group B champion after eliminating Singapore, 1-0, while the Philippines took second place, as both squads advanced to what were supposed to be home-and-away semifinal matches. The AFF had issued a statement on Thursday that the Philippines would not be able to host or play a leg of its semi-final or possible subsequent final at a home venue since all fields in the country do not meet the requirements for the AFF Suzuki Cup. The decision was done “after careful consideration and talks with the relevant parties," the AFF said. It was then announced on the official Suzuki Cup website that both matches between Indonesia and the Philippines would be played in Jakarta. “We are hopeful that the AFF will accept our proposal to have Ho Chi Minh as the neutral venue," Araneta said. But Simon McMenemy, the Philippine team’s English coach, said that not being able to play in the country was a “massive disappointment for both myself and the boys who worked so hard so they could play in front of their countrymen." “It’s painful and heart-breaking that we won’t be able to play in front of Filipinos," said McMenemy, citing the match’s importance not only for the team but also for the sport's status in the country. “What a huge impact it would have been for Philippine football had we played here," said Filipino-British striker Phil Younghusband. “Marinig mo lang ang mga kapwa mo Pilipino na sumisigaw para sayo, naka-aalis na ng pagod," added veteran Ian Araneta. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV