Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte, is well underway of becoming a premier destination for competitive football due to its newly launched FIFA Quality football pitch. Located in Barangay Tam-is, the Maasin City Tigers Football Field is the first FIFA-quality pitch in the Visayas.
The pitch is part of the soon-to-rise Maasin City Sports Complex that will also house an oval track, basketball stadium, volleyball gym, badminton courts, swimming pools, a grandstand and a convention center under strict standards for future international tournaments, particularly FIFA matches.
“The city’s decision to collaborate with DPWH’s investment in the football field and oval track stems from our commitment to promote sports as a vital platform for youth engagement, physical health, and fostering community pride. Football and track and field are steadily gaining popularity among the youth in Maasin City, with increasing participation in schools and local tournaments,” said Mayor Nacional Mercado, Maasin City.
“As someone who has personally experienced the joys and discipline of football as a high school varsity player, I am deeply passionate about introducing this sport to our younger generation. This investment by DPWH, through the efforts of former DPWH Secretary, Atty. Roger Mercado, is not just about building infrastructure but about creating opportunities for our youth to discover their potential, build character, and cultivate a lifelong love for sports.”
Built by E-Sports International, the country’s leader in sports architecture and recreational solutions, the Maasin football field’s durability, playability and aesthetic design was achieved with the use of Duo Shape turf, the FIFA-preferred brand of the renowned Italian sports surfaces expert, Limonta.
“The city partnered with E-Sports due to their expertise and impressive track record in constructing world-class sports facilities, and their successful work on the major soccer fields and sports facilities used in the SEA Games held in Pampanga,” said Mayor Mercado.
“Former DPWH Secretary Mercado strongly advocated for the use of turf over natural grass, recognizing its suitability for hosting practice sessions of the Philippine Football Team. Opting for artificial turf ensures year-round usability and aligns with global standards, making the facility not just a local asset but also a potential hub for national-level activities.”
Currently in the pipeline is a track oval around the football field which will also be constructed by E-Sports International. The oval track will utilize the Polytan Rekortan M performance surfaces and will be tested for the World Athletics Class 2 certification.
The Polytan Rekortan M track system is the most certified track in the world, with 153 World Athletics-certified installations across the globe.
According to Mayor Mercado, a FIFA-certified field and Class 2-certified track are essential to meet global standards, attract high-profile competitions, and boost the city’s reputation as a sports destination. These certifications ensure that the facilities meet stringent safety, performance, and quality criteria, satisfying the expectations of athletes and organizations.
“The football field and oval will serve as an asset to the city as it will enhance training opportunities and hosting capacities for local, regional, and national events. These facilities are expected to inspire more youth participation and attract sports tourism, generating revenue for the city,” said Mayor Mercado.
“We are excited about the economic opportunities this facility will generate for Maasin once we are fully operational. As events and tournaments increase, we anticipate a boost in local business, tourism, and job creation.”
For E-Sports International, the country’s leading supplier of international-standard sports facility surfaces as well as an authority in installation excellence, championing the athletes through internationally-certified venues is exactly one of its long-term visions.
“We thank the government of Maasin led by Mayor Mercado, for trusting us in this historic partnership,” said Audris Romualdez, the managing director of E-Sports International. “E-Sports International is committed to providing world-class venues for the sake of our young athletes who are the future of Philippine sports. We want to cover the entire nation – to go to the farthest reaches of the country and build sports venues that meticulously follow international standards so that our athletes can have centers of sports excellence on home ground.”
The Maasin City Football Field is the latest addition to E-Sports’ growing portfolio of FIFA-certified fields. In 2024 alone, the company’s 20th milestone year, it launched three FIFA-certified pitches nationwide, including the Romblon Football Stadium, the first facility of its kind in Southern Luzon; the ARCA South pitch, now home to Barca Academy; and the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Alabang.
E-Sports International has built 10 FIFA-certified football fields nationwide, including the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman field in Quezon City, Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna and the Philippines’ 1st IAAF-standard track and field oval at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for the 30th SEA Games in 2019.
Though not certified, E-Sports is also behind the establishment of the scenic Emperador Stadium at the Mckinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig as well as the first rooftop pitch in the country, Cherry Turf.
Aside from football pitches, E-Sports builds world-class oval tracks, federation-certified tennis and badminton courts, basketball courts, multi-purpose gyms, fitness centers surface solutions, jogging paths, and playgrounds – all for the realization of dreams for Filipino kids and for the future of Philippine sports.