Arsenal, Airtel to promote youth football on continent
Footballers from the Edgars Youth Programme with Uganda’s national team, the Cranes, at a past match at the Namboole stadium in Kampala. Photo/Morgan Mbabazi
What you need to know:
The deal will give Airtel the opportunity to use the English club’s merchandising, hospitality and content rights.
Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia and Ghana will benefit from the deal.
Arsenal Football Club and mobile phone operator Airtel have signed a three-year partnership to promote youth football programmes in Africa.
The deal will give Airtel the opportunity to use the English club’s merchandising, hospitality and content rights in five countries, namely Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia and Ghana.
Edgar Watson, the chief executive of the Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (Fufa) said: “When it comes to youth football, we welcome any support because we know the foundation of the game lies within them.”
Airtel customers in the five countries targeted for the programme have the opportunity to win match tickets to watch this summer’s pre-season tour fixture and receive exclusive club content and news direct to their handsets.
The partnership will also enable the north London side to reach some of its 42 million fans across the continent.
Arsenal will also support the Airtel Rising Stars football programme, an annual, multi-country grassroots soccer initiative that offers young boys and girls the opportunity to play, compete and showcase their talent to team selectors in their respective countries.
Fufa vice president-in-charge of youth Bernard Patrick Ogwel, said: “This programme is about talent identification; we will begin with Fufa’s eight regions and later the inter-regional competition.”
He added: “Airtel will be supporting 80 per cent of the programme in which we shall build a consistent structure for the U-20 and U-23 sides to feed the country’s national team, the Cranes.”
Passion for great game
Airtel Africa chief marketing officer Andre Beyers said: “Football fans across Africa are known for their passion for the great game. Arsenal’s exciting style of play and a history of working with the best talent from Africa will enrich this partnership and offer a wealth of opportunities for upcoming players and fans.”
Arsenal’s head of global partnerships, Vinai Venkatesham, added: “I am delighted to welcome Airtel into our family of commercial partners.
This is the second long-term partnership to arise from the continent and we look forward to developing a number of exciting initiatives with Airtel… This underlines the depth of our following in Africa, and how the profile of the club continues to grow internationally.”
