Philip to Give PCUFL Strong Backing

Philip Group will temporarily withdraw from China Football Association Cup (FAC), said Xu Shaoling, vice-president of Philip Electronics China Group, at the closing ceremony of 2000 Philip China FAC in Great Wall Hotel, Beijing.

Philip Group will fully back up the Philip China Undergraduates Football League (PCUFL), under which 1100 universities with a student body of 11 million throughout China will be involved, and under which 300 more soccer matches and 29 popularization activities will be launched from 2001 on. Xu said that Philip Group has the dream to help PCUFL develop into one to have most important soccer matches launched, on a footing highly comparable to all other Class A matches and FAC in China within three years to come.

Xu also said China's soccer games will still have the backing of Philip Group. Though Philip has declared its withdrawal from FAC for the time being it will put its whole weight behind PCUFL in advancing the country's soccer sports.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/