Living up
to its slogan as Tanzania’s most innovative mobile operator, Zantel announced
today a historic sponsorship with African Lyon that will reap benefits for the
development of football in Tanzania both on and off the pitch.
The
groundbreaking partnership will see Zantel support the African Lyon Football
Club and additionally the African Lyon Youth Academy which will take youth from
Tanzania to the United States for academic as well as football training with
some of the best coaches and facilities in the world; assuring that the
sponsorship of African Lyon creates a sustainable partnership in the continued
development of football in Tanzania. No
other brand in Tanzania has made such a bold and far reaching commitment to
football development.
African
Lyon has a unique partnership like no other team in Tanzania that
guarantees youth football development
stays at the heart of the organization. The African Lyon Youth Academy has a
direct partnership with the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer in the
United States as well as Louisiana College. This unique relationship allows for
two youth every year from the African Lyon Youth Academy to train with seasoned
professionals at world class facilities as well as attain a top notch education
while in the USA. The inaugural
candidate for this year is Jarufu Magese.
Additionally,
youth and coaches in Tanzania will benefit from clinics that will be held here
in Tanzania with coaches and sports professionals from professional teams in
the USA including the Portland Trailblazers of the NBA as well as football
coaches from the Seattle Sounders.
Speaking at
the contract signing ceremony, Zantel Chief Commercial
Officer, Mr Sajid Khan, said
that this partnership represents what Zantel wants to achieve in Tanzania, that
being sustainable development through cooperation. “Any company in Tanzania can
put their logo on a jersey and say they are a sponsor, for Zantel we don’t want
to be a sponsor, we want to be a partner and that is a big difference. This
partnership not only allows for the visibility of our brand, which of course is
very important but it goes beyond that and focuses on the development of youth
football in Tanzania and that is what a responsible citizen like Zantel is
supposed to do” said Khan.
The Guest
of Honor speaking at the contract signing ceremony, Deputy Minister for
Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Amos Makala, commended Zantel and
African Lyon on their historic partnership and the commitment of both
organizations in the cause of youth sports development in Tanzania.
‘We as the
government are very happy to see these kinds of partnerships aimed at the
development of youth, sports and education. I personally commend Zantel for
going beyond just sponsoring African Lyon but rather making a commitment off
the pitch to the African Lyon Youth Academy to ensure academic as well as
sports development. This definitely sets a good example for other companies in
Tanzania to follow” said Hon Makala.
Speaking on
behalf of African Lyon was Technical Director Mr.
Charles Oteino who praised
Zantel for their support and commitment. “There are not enough words to express
the level of gratitude that we feel towards the Zantel family” said Oteino
“Zantel has emerged as a leader that is looking well beyond publicity of their
brand but rather the commitment to actual sustainable development of sports in
this nation. African Lyon is the people’s team and Zantel is the people’s
network” added Oteino.
Zantel Press Release
TECH360 Correspondent