Red Bull gives booters extra boost

The Philippine men’s football team is raring to go into action in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games following the extra boost it got from Red Bull Energy Drink, which offered huge financial incentive for a medal it will win in the SEAG football competitions which fire off Nov. 22 in Bacolod.

Red Bull owner George Chua stakes P1 million for a gold-medal feat of the RP booters, P500,000 for silver and P250,000 for bronze.

With the valuable support of Red Bull, the team’s extensive preparations, enlistment of no less than six Fil-foreign players plus the home crowd, Philippine Football Federation president Johnny Romualdez said the team could end its hunt for a very first medal in the biennial meet among 11 nations in the region.

Curiously, the closest the RP booters could get to winning a SEAG medal was in 1991 when they placed fourth here in Manila.

"We have prepared long and hard for this SEA Games and recruited good Fil-foreign players. We also love the result of the draw. With all these, I do believe we can deliver," said Romualdez.

The PFF president expressed gratitude to the support given by Red Bull. He said: "I’m thankful to Red Bull for its financial incentive scheme for the team. I know it’s not easily given because times are hard. Their contribution will go a long way. They’re daring us to win a medal, and we will."

"How we wish we win a medal and we’re more than happy to give all these incentives," Chua said.

Chua, a businessman-sportsman who played football with the Letran Knights in the NCAA, announced his financial incentive in a meeting with Romualdez Thursday. Red Bull top executive Tony Chua, also a former Letran soccer player who is PFF executive vice president, arranged the meeting.

"People know that I love basketball but I also love football so much, that’s why whatever help we can give, Red Bull will be there," said George Chua.

The Philippines is bracketed with regional power Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia in a nine-team field divided into two groups. The RP booters are hopeful they can beat Malaysia and Cambodia and gain entry into the medal plays.

"We can beat Cambodia. We lost to Malaysia, 2-1, in both the pre-SEAG tourney and in the Bolkiah Cup in Brunei. But we still didn’t have our Fil-foreign recruits then," said Romualdez.

The national booters are already in Bacolod with Chinese coach He Yongsan, familiarizing themselves with the playing fields at the Panaad Sports Center and the Paglaum Sports Complex.

They open their campaign against the Thais on Nov. 24.