Orlando Pirates FC and PUMA on Tuesday mutually announced a long-term â??official suppliersâ? partnership deal coming into effect on February 1, 2007.
The long-term agreement that will see the Peoples Team endorse the Puma brand beyond the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, was blessed by Orlando Pirates vice chairperson Mabos Ortman and Puma agent Jurie van Tonder at a the Orlando Pirates club house. Also present to witness this milestone occurrence was the Orlando Pirates founding member Ou Lemie /Narib, acting NFA Secretary General Barry Rukoro, coach Ali Akan, players and supporters.
Mabos Ortmann
The clubâ??s vice-person noted that football has become a significant part of our lives and it is has great potential to become an important role-player in the Namibian economy.
â??Simply because it is the largest and most beloved sport in the country, delivering measurable media value, and as a result it represents one of the most effective marketing platforms which offer unmatched advertising opportunities. We have thus, designed the Orlando Pirates Investor/Sponsorship Programme, a commercial motive to offer prospective corporations and brands unique and highly specialized promotional platforms for corporate enhancement and to show off their products, services and expertise.â?
Jurie van Tonder
â??We have been looking for an associate with a club in Namibia and the fact that Orlando Pirates has a spectacular reach around Namibia through the universal language of football is this unique attribute that convinced us to commit to this dealâ?, says Jurie van Tonder the Puma agent in Namibia. â??This long-term partnership with Orlando Pirates underlines Pumaâ??s commitment to support African football. Africa will be the center of attention with the African Cup of Nations in 2008 leading up to the 2010 World Cupâ?¢ in South Africa.
Orlando Pirates vice chairperson further elaborated that both Puma and Orlando Pirates, enjoys tremendous brand awareness and this partnership will certainly endorse the clubâ??s mission to contribute to the development and broadening of the national appeal of football even further.
"We are delighted and very proud that Puma agreed to become the official supplier of Orlando Pirates FC This association with â??a top brand which enjoys a quality reputation in the world of footballâ?, creates a true business relationship with many opportunities and we hope that together we can achieve more and more success.â? Mabos Ortman concluded.
Long term commitment
Puma will be the first elite company to join Orlando Pirates FCâ??s new class of business partnership that combines the highest level of affiliation to the club with a long-term commitment through to 2011. As an Orlando Pirates FC Partner, Puma will enjoy the status of â??official supplierâ? to all Orlando Pirates FC special activities and development initiatives. This simultaneously marks the first time that a Namibian football club has entered into a distinctive sponsorship deal of this scale. With an impressive portfolio of PUMA-endorsed national teams (including reigning World Champions Italy, Czech Republic, African Champions Egypt, Ivory Coast, Angola, Egypt, Senegal Tunisia as well as African powerhouses Cameroon), PUMA is already indisputably the most visible football brand in Africa.
Puma will supply the players and technical staff innovative modern gear and for those supporters who want to wear something from the most supported sport club in Namibia, they will now be to buy high-quality replicas.