THE MEN’S National Under-23 Football Team that will see action in the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia in November got another boost for its campaign as Suzuki Philippines (SPH) has thrown its full support to the team as official sponsor.
Recognizing the standing of football as the most popular sport in the world as well as upholding its commitment “to solidify the thrust of competitive sportsmanship through football gaming in the Philippines,” the company has decided to back the Junior Azkals, SPH said in a statement provided during the official sponsorship agreement signing at the Richmonde Eastwood Hotel in Quezon City yesterday.
“Since football is the most popular sport in the world, Suzuki clearly wants to capitalize on this foundation to be able to build a strong pool of young players that will carry the Filipino flag,” said SPH President Satoshi Uichida in the statement.
The sponsorship agreement is in line with SPH’s other programs for local football which include its support for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Suzuki U-23 National Cup earlier this year and for the country’s homegrown football heroes Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Yannick Tuazon, Paolo Pascual and Roel Gener.
With this latest backing, the PFF, the national sports association of football in the Philippines, said it is very excited with the partnership and more determined to do good in the upcoming SEA Games. “We in PFF, appreciate all the efforts of SPH in elevating the sport to higher heights, and we are optimistic all this backing will only merit positive results,” said PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.
For his part, Philippine Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami said that while the enthusiasm of the players to compete in international tournaments stems from playing for flag and country, sponsorships from various groups are very much welcome, saying “With the belief that is coming from sponsors like Suzuki, it further fuels them (players)... thinking there is tangible support provided for them.”
This year marks the first time in six years that the Philippines is sending a football team in the SEA Games. The last time the country competed in the regional meet was in 2005 where it had only one win to show for. The best finish the Philippines had in SEA Games football was in 1991 when it made it to the semifinals as host.
The 2011 U-23 team is hoping to build on the interest generated, and headway made, by the Senior Azkals in the last year and a half. The team is made up of local talents backed up by at least seven experienced international campaigners, including Azkals members Roland Muller (goalkeeper) and Jason De Jong (midfielder).
The Philippines is in Group B along with Vietnam, Timor Leste, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei. The Indonesia SEA Games will be from Nov. 11 to 22. -- Michael Angelo S. Murillo
source:
http://www.bworldonline.com
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