OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Tuesday 11.50am.
TWO of the greatest rivals in South African soccer Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have been united under the same sponsorship banner.
Cellular network provider Vodacom has announced a “multi-million rand” three-year sponsorship the two clubs who hold two of the top-three spots on the Premier Soccer League log.
The exact amount involved in the deal was not disclosed.
The deal takes effect on June 1, and Vodacom managing director Andrew Mthembu believes the sponsorship to be “very significant for us and soccer in South Africa.”
Chiefs managing director Kaizer Motaung said that the club is heading down the right avenues with the deal, and said: “If Manchester United have struck a multi-million pound deal with Vodafone, then we are obviously heading in the right direction with this deal.”
“The growth of football in recent years has been phenomenal. The game has become big business and very technical in terms of playing and administering. We have to move with the times and link up with the best and latest technology.”
Pirates managing director Irvin Khoza said the sponsorship comes at just the right time. “It couldn’t have come at a better time, as Pirates are soon to engage in an ambitious restructuring programme to keep up with modern trends.”