As Azkals prepare for match, they get P500,000 as bonus

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Azkals have received P500,000 as their share from the TV coverage of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match opposite Mongolia last Feb. 9 in Bacolod City.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the amount was part of the TV deal the PFF and ABS-CBN agreed upon representing payment for the broadcast rights awarded to the Lopez-owned company.

Under the agreement, the Azkals will get a fixed P500,000 share when they play against an international squad in the Philippines. The amount, however, is P250,000 when the game is broadcast from abroad which will be the case in the second leg match against Mongolia on March 15 which ABS-CBN will air live from Ulan Bator starting 12 noon on Studio 23.

The income from the TV coverage will go directly to the members of the Azkals and the coaching staff unlike the P80 million and P21 million, 10-year pledges of telecom giant Smart and Air21, which will be channeled to the PFF’s different programs.

“It (P500,000) will go straight to the Azkals,” Araneta said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night on Saturday at the Manila Hotel, where the Azkals were honored with the PSA Presidential Achievement award.

Manila Bulletin