SINGAPORE (16 July 2014) – Suzuki Motor Corporation will title sponsor this year’s ASEAN Football Championship for the fourth successive occasion, and once again enjoy an association with an event that has unrivalled fan support in the region.
The biennial event kicks off on 22 November and is being co-hosted by Singapore and Vietnam, with the official draw due to take place in Hanoi on 5 August.
“The AFF Suzuki Cup embodies the same excitement and passion as Suzuki’s ‘Way of Life!’ global slogan,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, Suzuki Motor Corporation.
The Japanese multinational corporation title sponsored the event in 2008, 2010 and 2012, enabling the company to see the tournament flourish with each passing season.
“This great competition is the biggest football event in the ASEAN region and allows Suzuki to heighten our brand awareness and convey our passion for making the best products for fans around the world,” added Mr. Suzuki.
Defending champion’s Singapore, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will once again compete in the competition, which was first played in 1996.
They will be joined by two teams from a pre-qualifying competition played in Laos from 12 to 20 October that will include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and the host nation.
“We welcome Suzuki Motor Corporation back as title sponsor and look forward to one of the finest AFF Suzuki Cups later this year,” said HRH Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, President, ASEAN Football Federation.
“The AFF Suzuki Cup is virtually guaranteed full houses in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines and with the new 55,000 seat National Stadium in Singapore being used we are in for a very special month of football.”
The AFF Suzuki Cup group stages will be played from 22 to 29 November in Singapore and Vietnam, followed by the semi-finals and the final from 6 to 20 December which will be played on a home and away basis.
“We have been able to enjoy nine memorable seasons of the ASEAN Football Championship and we are grateful to Suzuki Motor Corporation for playing such an important role in the event’s success,” said Tom Wheeler, Vice-President, Football, World Sport Group (WSG).
The event promoter, WSG, is Asia’s largest sports marketing, media and event management company and have been involved with the AFF Suzuki Cup from its inauguration.
Singapore triumphed in the AFF Suzuki Cup for a record fourth time by beating Thailand 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final in December 2012.
It will be the fourth time Singapore have hosted the AFF Suzuki Cup after the 1996, 2002 and 2007 editions.
The group in Vietnam will be played at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi where the celebrated Le Cong Vinh’s headed goal in overtime presented his country with the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time in December, 2008.
Vietnam staged the event in 1998, 2004 and 2010.
The official draw will determine which venue hosts the opening game.
