AFF Suzuki Cup postponed due to COVID-19

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The ASEAN Football Federation has announced the postponement of the AFF Suzuki Cup due to COVID-19.

The tournament was set to take place between November 31 and December 31 this year but will now be moved to 2021 instead.

The AFF Suzuki Cup is held every two years and is played between the south east Asian countries.

The cup was scheduled to be contested by Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. The latter are the defending champions, while Thailand are five-time winners of the tournament.

The last edition of the cup did not have a host nation, with teams alternating between playing home matches in their own country and away games in other nations.

“Since the onset of COVID-19, the AFF has been closely monitoring guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), Health Ministries, government agencies, FIFA and AFC,” Major General Khiev Sameth said, the AFF President.

“As you are aware, this pandemic continues to pose enormous health, societal and economic challenges to us all. AFF’s top priority continues to be the health and safety of our football family and mitigating the impact of this pandemic. With the risk of the spread of COVID-19 remaining high, the AFF finds itself in a situation where we cannot proceed safely with the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020.

“While these are unprecedented times for the whole world including our football family and communities, we are confident that we will get through it together with the support of all our stakeholders including our fans, Member Associations, players, coaches, official, media and partners and we would like to thank them for standing united with us in the fight against COVID-19.”

The AFF said that it will be monitoring the situation and will release information on the 2021 running of the event as soon as possible.

“Sportfive supports the decision by the AFF to postpone the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 to ensure the safety and well-being of all players, partners, staff and fans. While we are disappointed that we are unable to hold the tournament this year, we will work closely with the AFF to monitor the situation and look forward to working with our partners to deliver a great tournament for the fans of ASEAN next year.” Adrian Staiti said – President of Suzuki Cup partner Sportfive.

Australia is an ASEAN country, however it is not a member nation of the AFF.

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Daniel Foley is a sports junior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and micro industry matters.

Brisbane Roar confirm deal with CSQ for 2024/25 season

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Image credit: Brisbane Roar website

Brisbane Roar have collaborated a new partnership with Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), who will join the club as a Platinum Partner for the 2024/25 season.

CSQ, dedicated to training and developing the Queensland building and construction industry, is focused on inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in construction.

By partnering with Brisbane Roar, CSQ aims to engage with passionate young football fans and introduce them to the exciting opportunities within the construction industry.

This collaboration will be highlighted through CSQ’s sponsorship of the half-time heroes activation at both A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s matches.

Brisbane Roar CEO and Chairman, Kaz Patafta expressed his excitement for the future with this partnership.

“Brisbane Roar are delighted to welcome Construction Skills Queensland on board for the upcoming season as an official Platinum Partner,” Patafta said in a club statement.

“We’re very thankful to the CSQ team for supporting our club and look forward to growing this partnership over the next year.”

CSQ CEO Geoff Clare emphasised the importance of the partnership in extending the reach of their Construction Pathways campaign, which has primarily targeted high school students.

“We have been busy spreading the word about careers in construction through programs and campaigns targeting high schoolers and their teachers and families,” Clare said in a statement.

“It is exciting for us to broaden the reach of Construction Pathways messaging to include the younger fan base and young families through Brisbane Roar.

“We see great synergies between the dynamic energy of the game and the unparalleled opportunities to progress in a successful construction career.

“There has been a real shift in how construction is viewed by the community, with more smart young people choosing construction as their first choice after school.

“Conversations and opinions about future careers are happening from an early age and we are excited to be able to spark some new thinking about construction in young Roar fans.”

Brisbane Roar are always one of the busiest clubs in the A-Leagues in regards to their business dealings and they have expanded their corporate portfolio yet again.

This partnerships also provides a unique opportunity to engage their younger fanbase, offering them valuable insights into the construction industry while leveraging CSQ’s extensive national reach.

Wellington Phoenix unite with Entelar Group as principal partner

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Image credit: Wellington Phoenix Instagram

Wellington Phoenix have confirmed Entelar Group has joined the club as one of its principal partners for the upcoming season.

As ‘New Zealand’s total connection company,’ Entelar Group will be featured alongside OPPO as the Phoenix’s front-of-shirt partners for the 2024-25 A-Leagues.

OPPO, the global smart device brand, has renewed its commitment for a fourth season as a principal partner and will be prominently displayed on the men’s home and women’s away shirts this season. Entelar Group will take the spotlight on the women’s home and men’s away jerseys.

Additionally, Entelar Group has pledged its support to the club’s award-winning Football For All programme, which helps eliminate barriers for thousands of Tamariki and Rangatahi to participate in futsal or football in Aotearoa.

Phoenix general manager David Dome mentioned the great support of OPPO over the last three seasons and his enthusiasm for the new partnership.

“We’re delighted to have Entelar Group join OPPO as our principal partners for the upcoming A-League season,” Phoenix general manager David Dome said in a club statement.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved in football and Entelar Group is an exciting New Zealand company that are ambitious, like us.

“By getting behind our Football For All programme New Zealand’s total connection company is not only giving back to the game but connecting communities.

“OPPO New Zealand has been one of our biggest supporters for the past three years and our national fan base has played a part in making it the respected and loved brand it is in Aotearoa today.

“We’ve enjoyed working with the OPPO New Zealand team and look forward to taking our partnership with them to a new level this season.”

Entelar Group CEO Rajesh Singh shared his excitement about joining the Wellington Phoenix whānau.

“The timing couldn’t be better with the increasing popularity of football in Aotearoa,” Singh said in a statement.

“So many of our people all over the country, as well as our customers, suppliers, and partners are all big fans of the Phoenix, making this relationship even more special to show our commitment to building connections with New Zealand businesses and the wider community.”

OPPO New Zealand managing director Morgan Halim spoke about the fantastic connection they have created with the Wellington Phoenix.

“This partnership has been a game-changer for OPPO in New Zealand, allowing us to connect with fans nationwide,” Halim said in a statement.

“We’re excited to welcome Entelar Group on board and look forward to making this season the most memorable one yet for our supporters.”

The OPPO logo has been iconic on the Phoenix shirt over the past few seasons and the club have done fantastically to grow their business portfolio with another big New Zealand company in Entelar Group.

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