SEA Games men's football opening night twinbill still at Rizal Memorial Stadium

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--The opening night doubleheader in Group A of the Southeast Asian Games men's football event on Monday will still be at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. This despite the problems regarding the renovation of the said venue.

Ernie Nierras, one of the assistant coaches of the U22 Azkals that will host the tournament, confirmed the development via Facebook.

"The U22 [Azkals] will be playing Cambodia at RMS at 8 p.m.," said Nierras.

The first match of the tournament, a showdown between Myanmar and Malaysia, will also be played at RMS at 4 p.m. Monday.

Speculations began to arise about a possible venue change for the Group A twinbill when it was revealed that the renovation of RMS, the home of the 1991 SEA Games, has taken so long that it may be finished after the deadline with the Binan Football Stadium, the main home of the women's football event, tipped as an alternate.

But with Nierras' statement, it is assured that RMS will get to host the men's football matches even if the renovation is still ongoing.

However, Nierras confirmed that the Binan Football Stadium will be hosting a men's football match on opening night.

"The match at Biñan will be Vietnam versus Brunei," Nierras, also the head coach and president of Stallion Laguna, which operates the said pitch, revealed, effectively meaning that the Group B opener was moved from the Imus Grandstand there.

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