UP Diliman football field earns FIFA quality seal

THE newly built University of the Philippines football field has been ruled at par with international standards after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) recently awarded it with a quality certification seal.
Located off Ylanan St. in the north part of the Diliman campus, the field, installed by E-Sports International, went through stringent and globally recognized tests, anchored on a set of criteria for safety, durability and performance.
The UP Diliman football field passed all of them, said E-Sports International.
“We at E-Sports International are committed to create facilities that provide the ultimate sporting experience,” said Audris Romualdez, Managing Director of E-Sports International.
“For UP to receive this certification means that it is capable of holding matches of premier caliber, providing opportunities for more home-grown football players see the global stage. This only shows how serious we are in providing world-class sports facilities,” she added.
Locally based E-Sports International said for the UP project it used Duo Shape P+ 45mm turf with a Shockdrain system for the football pitch.
Test engineers from Acousto-Scan visited the football grounds to conduct the FIFA Quality field test, a two-phase procedure that carefully evaluates the turf’s surface composition, ball bounce, player interaction, weather resistance, among others.
“Our longstanding promise is to give athletes exceptional pitches so they can train to be the best they can be. High-quality turf systems should be properly installed and be well maintained to prevent rapid pitch deterioration,” said Ms. Romualdez.
Adding, “Paying close attention to these factors will guarantee a field’s safety, superior performance, playability, and pitch longevity.”
The brand-new football pitch will be the home of reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines football champion UP Maroon Booters.
The UP Diliman football field is an addition to other pitches that E-Sports had installed and got FIFA quality certification for, which include the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila and the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
E-Sports International said it is currently building six additional football fields around the Philippines, two of which will undergo testing by the FIFA Quality Program by the end of the year. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo