The Philippine Football Federation has struck a P3.2 million deal with Suzuki Motor Corporation, a sponsorship pact that will make the Japanese firm the title sponsor of the Under-23 national championship.
PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta announced the partnership on Thursday for the tournament which starts later this month to May.
“We’re glad that they (Suzuki) are partnering with us. This is a big support for the development of football in the country,” Araneta said in a press conference at the PFF headquarters in Pasig City.
The standout booters in the competition will be selected to don the national colors in the Southeast Asian Games in November and the Asean Football Federation U-23 tilt in July which will be both held in Indonesia.
The country is aching to win its first ever medal in the SEA Games.
Suzuki is known for sponsoring international football tournaments. Since 2008, it stood as title sponsor for the AFF Cup, the most prestigious tourney in the ASEAN region.
It was in this same tournament last year, where the Philippine Azkals became overnight sensation following their historic semifinals finish in Indonesia.
The Under-23 Suzuki championship, adopting the guidelines and rules of the AFF, begins with cluster qualifying rounds in Visayas and Mindanao from March 21 to 31, to be followed by regional qualifiers from April 11-23. Eight teams – two each from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region – will then advance into the semifinal stage and will be divided into two groups. The top two teams in each group after a single round elims will play in a home-and-away semifinal to determine the finalists. The home-and-away finals are set in May.
Araneta said members of the Philippine Azkals can play in the meet as long as they qualify for the age limit.
Goal keepers Neil Etheridge, 20, who traces his roots in Tarlac City and Christopher Camcam, 16, and Jason de Jong, 20, who traces hi roots to Tarlac are some of the Azkals who are eligible to play.
/via Manila Bulletin
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