The floodlights at the Paglaum Sports Complex will be transferred as soon as Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro approves the request submitted to his office by the provincial government.

Former Bacolod City congressman Monico Puentevella, who presently serves as Philippine Olympic Committee chairman, said the lights are needed for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup game scheduled on Feb. 9, 2011 at the Panaad Stadium in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Puentevella said a team from the AFC will be in Bacolod on January 15 to inspect the Panaad venue and assess its suitability to host the game.

Along with Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, Puentevella met with the representative of Mongolia to discuss the possibility of hosting two games at the Panaad stadium instead of the home-and-away format.

Puentevella said having the games in Bacolod City will provide the players a break from the freezing winter weather all over Europe and some parts of Asia.

But the Mongolian official declined, insisting on one game in Mongolia, which they proposed to be on March 15, 2011, Puentevella said.

Negotiation was done during the 24th AFC Congress in Doha, Qatar, where AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam was elected unopposed for another four years.

FIFA’s Pres. Sepp Blatter attended and spoke at the forum before the hotly contested election for the other AFC positions, Puentevella said.*NAB

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