INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) wants to fast-track the signing of the memorandum of agreement with charismatic religious leader Brother Mike Velarde, who owns the 4.5-hectare prime property in Parañaque where a new football field will be constructed.

PFF president Mariano ?Nonong? Araneta has expressed hope the MOA will be signed and submitted to the legal department of the International Football Federation (Fifa) in time for a Fifa conference on February 28, when the ?Goal? project proposals will be discussed.

The construction of an artificial pitch will be Goal Project 2 for the Philippines and will have a $500,000 Fifa grant.

?If we can have the project approved by February 28, we will have a field in six months,? Araneta told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Araneta said the project would cover the construction of an artificial football pitch, and not a grandstand.

The national team has been without a regular practice facility and trained in different venues like University of Makati, Nomads, Alabang Country Club, Ateneo and International School.

Velarde has actually offered an area close to the pitch where the PFF can hold office, and Araneta saw the possibility of selling the federation?s building in Pasig to fund the construction of a new one near the facility.

On top of the aid the PFF received from international organizations, Smart Communications pledged P80 million and Air21 added P21 million for the PFF?s projects in the next 10 years.