February 25, 2004

The main sponsor of Albirex Niigata in Singapore is confirmed as Sanyo with co sponsors, Japan Airlines (JAL), San You Hui & Toyota.

The amounts of all the sponsorship were not revealed.

Speaking at the press conference to announce their sponsors Albirex head coach Hiroshi Ohashi has rejected the notion his club could end up as Champion for the 2004 season.

The Japanese club have been touted as 1of the title favourites by virtue of their J-League status back in Japan.

But since arriving in Singapore a month ago, Albirex head coach Hiroshi Ohashi has found the standard of local football here to be better than expected.

Having seem the friendly matches the S-league clubs have been involved in, he stated the S-League is a very competitive league & the standard of the S-League is much better than what Singaporeans think.

He felt S-League players are technically very sound, and are competent in what they do

Nevertheless he demanded his team must finished among the top 3or else it will be a failure for the club & him.