MANILA – The football field at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) has been awarded the Quality Pro certificate by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and E-Sports International, the leading expert in establishing FIFA-certified fields in the country, jointly made the announcement Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum at the RMSC.

FIFA Quality Pro is the topmost quality designation within the FIFA Quality Programme, indicating the strictest standards of performance, accuracy, safety, and durability. It is reserved for artificial turf that may be used for the highest level of football such as professional matches and international tournaments.

“I’m glad to inform you that Rizal Memorial football stadium is now officially a FIFA Quality Pro certified field. Since we passed it, I want to thank the PSC for the trust, for allowing us to build champions with them,” E-Sports Managing Director Audris Romualdez said.

E-Sports General Manager Pam Romualdez, Joseph Apat from Lanao del Norte's Office of the Provincial Architect, and Cyril Olis, a Department of Education teacher and football coach, were also present during the weekly public sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.

“The ultimate goal for PSC is to make it (football field) alive again. And we want to thank E-Sports for helping us and giving us quality turf which everyone can enjoy,” PSC Chair Richard Bachmann, who received a huge replica of the field certificate from E-Sports International officials, said.

The football field was refurbished within a month’s time, then tested last April 11, before finally getting the formal certification on May 2.

The FIFA Quality Pro certificate is valid for a year, while the FIFA Quality certificate has a validity of three years. E-Sports will provide one year of free servicing in the upkeep of the field, and has also given maintenance equipment and training to PSC personnel.

“We are actually building a skate park as well, the first and largest in the Philippines. We also do a lot of recreational spaces, obstacle courses, outdoor fitness spaces for developers, and we also do multi-purpose sports, tennis courts, and they’re all FIFA certified, Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)-certified, badminton certified, and International Tennis Federation (ITF)-certified,” Romualdez said.

Meanwhile, Lanao Del Norte 1st District Representative-elect Imelda Dimaporo has already tapped the services of E-Sports to help upgrade the Mindanao Civic Center. (PNA)