SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION SECURES SEVENTH AFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Suzuki Motor Corporation has reaffirmed its commitment to football in South East Asia by announcing they will title sponsor this year’s ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Football Championship for the seventh successive occasion.
The AFF Suzuki Cup, boasting unrivalled television ratings and sold-out stadia, will kick off this year in October and will once again unite the passion of football fans in the whole region, leading up to the Final in December.
Suzuki Motor Corporation first title sponsored the biennial competition in 2008, and since then, have been a driving force behind the iconic tournament.
“We are proud to be a part of the AFF Suzuki Cup over the past 12 years – we have witnessed first-hand how the tournament gets better with every passing edition and has never failed to capture the hearts and passion of the ASEAN fans,” said Kinji Saito, Managing Officer of Suzuki Motor Corporation.
“Suzuki marks its 100th anniversary this year, and we are reminded that our relationship with the ASEAN region goes back 90 years. As a company that always aims to deliver excitement, it is a great honour that we get to inspire dreams among fans again this year through the AFF Suzuki Cup.”
“On behalf of the ASEAN Football Federation, I would like to express our appreciation to Suzuki Motor Corporation for supporting our flagship event again. They have been a committed partner and have contributed significantly to the success of this tournament. We have enjoyed a great working relationship with them and we look forward to being partners for many more years,” said AFF President, Major General Khiev Sameth.
“The AFF Suzuki Cup connects the region in a spirit of friendship that transcends football and is one of the most thrilling events in this part of the world. As with previous editions, fans will once again pack the stadiums, with millions more following all the action on TV. We are excited and looking forward to the 13th edition of this prestigious competition.”
Vietnam stormed to victory in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 after beating Malaysia 3-2 in the final. It was their second success in the competition following their triumph in 2008.
The 2018 tournament saw a record number of 752,945 fans attending the matches, with each team playing two games at home and two games away in the new format for the group stages.
“Suzuki Motor Corporation’s title sponsorship has undoubtedly helped the AFF Suzuki Cup grow into the most important and most-watched football tournament in the region, and today’s announcement confirms the attractiveness for brands of a long term association with the region's biggest sporting event,” said Malcolm Thorpe, Managing Director, South East Asia at Lagardère Sports.
“We would like to thank Suzuki Motor Corporation for their support and we are confident that they will benefit greatly from the extended partnership.”
First played in 1996, the AFF Suzuki Cup is organised by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), accredited by FIFA, and contested by the national ‘A’ teams of South East Asia.
Thailand has claimed the AFF Suzuki Cup the most times with five titles in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014 and 2016.
The Championship was created in 1996 out of a partnership between the AFF and Lagardère Sports.
About the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF)
The ASEAN Football Federation comprises 12 Member Associations. The main objectives of the ASEAN Football Federation are to develop football in ASEAN through its activities, courses and competitions, to continue to nurture the AFF Suzuki Cup as the premier Football Tournament in Asia and to foster closer relationships between Member Associations in ASEAN and the Regional Federations across Asia. https://www.aseanfootball.org
About Suzuki Motor Corporation
The Suzuki Motor Corporation is one of the rare manufacturers in the world to produce passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs and outboard motors. Its motorcycle products range from scooters to large motorcycles to meet the diverse demands of its customers around the world. Suzuki’s automobile business has a large share of the Japanese mini car market and develops a range of products for the global market, focusing on the compact car market in response to increasing concerns for the good of the environment. The company marks its 100th anniversary on 15th March. The main production facilities are located in 19 countries and regions overseas, enabling Suzuki to operate as a global organisation serving 210 countries and regions. The global sales volume in 2019 (January 2019 to December 2019) is 3 million units for Automobiles and 1.78 million units for Motorcycles and ATVs. https://www.globalsuzuki.com
About Lagardère Sports
Lagardère Sports is a leading sports marketing agency with a global network of local experts dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that meet our clients’ needs. We believe sport inspires emotions and passion that are essential to enriching people’s lives and generate powerful collective experiences. At Lagardère Sports, we dedicate our expertise and passion to providing our clients with privileged access to the infinite opportunities of sports. Lagardère Sports is part of Lagardère Sports and Entertainment, a company with more than 1,700 employees worldwide and 50 years of experience. For more information, please visit lagardere-se.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
