USD23,000 FOR FILIS’ SEMI-FINAL APPEARANCE; MALAYSIA OFFER USD1,600 EACH FOR SUZUKI CUP WIN

Philippines business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan made the pledge to the football team for their fine campaign in the on-going AFF Suzuki Cup where they will be up against Indonesia in the two-legged semi-finals on 16 and 19 Dec 2010.

Both matches will be played at the Senayan Stadium in Jakarta.

“We are very happy with the help of Pangilinan,” said Philippines team manager Dan Palami. “This is a big step in the development of football in the country.

“I hope that with the support from Pangilinan, it will open the floodgates for more corporate backers for the team, which had played abroad virtually unnoticed until their historic victory over the defending champion Vietnam.”

The Philippines national team will leave for Jakarta tomorrow.

In the meantime, Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has announced a reward of RM5,000 (USD1,600) to each of their players should they win the AFF Suzuki Cup this year.

Shabery said that the amount of reward given out is the same for Malaysia’s gold-winning effort at the SEA Games in Laos last year.

“Congratulations to the team for their hard work to make the semi-finals of the championship this year but their real success would be in winning the tournament,” added Shabery.

Malaysia will take on Vietnam in the first leg semi-final on 15 Dec at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil with the return leg three days later at the My Dinh National Stadium.

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2010, SEMI-FINALS FIXTURES

First-leg – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (BUKIT JALIL NATIONAL STADIUM, KUALA LUMPUR)

15 Dec Malaysia vs Vietnam (2000hrs)

First-leg – Jakarta, Indonesia (GELORA BUNG KARNO STADIUM, JAKARTA)

16 Dec Philippines vs Indonesia

Second-leg – Hanoi, Vietnam (MY DINH NATIONAL STADIUM, HANOI)

18 Dec Vietnam vs Malaysia (2000hrs)

Second-leg – Jakarta, Indonesia (GELORA BUNG KARNO STADIUM, JAKARTA)

16 Dec Indonesia vs Philippines