There will be a new title sponsor for the ASEAN Football Federation Championship, which is also known as AFF Cup,
It will now be known as the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 when it kicks off on Dec. 14.
The change came after Mitsubishi Electric Group replaced Japanese automobile company Suzuki, which held the naming rights from for the competition for 14 years.
Competitions have been organized every two years since 1996, except for 2007, and 2020, after was postponed to 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Mitsubishi Electric is known as global leader in integrated electronics and electrical equipment.
“As the world starts to re-open after two difficult years, we are excited to become the title sponsor of the AFF Championship and support AFF’s vision in bringing this unique event to the next level,” said Kunihiko Seki, Corporate Executive and Chief Representative Asia Pacific Region of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, after meeting with AFF officials during the closing days of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta attended the meeting.
The Philippine Azkals is expected to compete again, but this time a new coach will handle the team.
Scott Cooper has stepped down as head coach of the men’s national team, and the PFF is looking for a new one.
PFF national teams’ committee chairman Dan Palami, who also manages the PMNT, expressed gratitude to Cooper for his contributions to the national team program, which he handled shortly after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
“We thank coach Scott for sharing his knowledge, time, effort and making great sacrifices to our men’s national team program,” said Palami in a statement.
A new head coach of the Azkals will be known to help the national squad prepare for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers from June 8 to 14 in Mongolia.