IN another big step for local football, the Philippine Football Federation yesterday signed a four-year deal with world sports brand adidas to outfit the World Cup-bound Filipinas and support the PFF’s women’s programs.
“Today marks a special day for Philippine football, particularly women’s football, as the PFF enters a partnership with a truly iconic global brand which is a staunch supporter of the beautiful game, adidas,” PFF President Mariano Araneta Jr. said during a press conference at the New World Hotel in Makati.
“This partnership is a testament of the belief in the Filipinas and the potential of women’s football in the country,” he added of the landmark partnership with one of the leading global companies associated with football.
He noted that the famous three stripes logo of adidas seems to have a certain magic, pointing out that star striker Lionel Messi and Argentina captured the World Cup in Doha, Qatar last year wearing its jerseys.
Also present during the event were PFF general secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes, Filipinas team manager Jeff Cheng and national players Hali Long, Inna Palacios, Sarina Bolden and Olivia McDaniel, the latter two joining online from their locations in Australia and the US, respectively.
“Today is a very proud day for our brand and our three stripes family. This partnership extends beyond the World Cup,” said adidas Philippines general manager Anthony Frangos.
“This partnership will not only see adidas and the Philippine national women’s team but also the youth teams and the youth programs that the PFF is looking to develop,” Frangos noted.
“This is a good milestone that a global brand like adidas has decided to partner with the PFF in sponsoring the women’s team and somehow elevates our accomplishment of the team and our popularity to greater heights,” Cheng said.
“It is a big, big help to our federation and the women’s football program. They (adidas) are here for the long haul. They will also sponsor the kit of all youth teams on an annual basis,” Gastanes said.
The PFF and adidas executives said the Filipinas will sport their new jerseys starting with the four-nation Pinatar Cup kicking off in Murcia, Spain on Feb. 21.
“What I can promises is that these kits will be beautiful,” hinted Gastanes of the design of the national women’s team uniforms and jerseys that was conceptualized by both the PFF and adidas creative teams.
“We really want to thank you adidas in partnering with us and represent the country in the biggest tournament in the world,” gushed goalie Palacios. “My first ever shoes were adidas. As the girls were saying, they are so iconic so it is going to be an exciting partnership that can push ourselves further.”
“Having adidas as our sponsor gives us added respect,” said Bolden, who now plays for the Sydney Wanderers women’s squad in Australia. “It was so unlike before when we came for practice in whatever gear we had.”
