Airtel and Arsenal seek partnership in sports merchandise deal

The mobile operator will provide club’s merchandise as well as create good hospitality and content rights in Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda. An enticing promotional offer will also be available.

To win summer’s pre-season match tickets, Airtel customers from the above African countries will battle out in a competition as part of a promotional exercise.

The telephone service provider will offer information on summer’s re-season tour fixture, club’s content and news.

African countries have provided talented soccer players to (EPL). Nwankwo Kanu, one of Nigeria’s sensational strikers in the last one decade was at Arsenal.

The company’s Africa chief marketing officer Andre Beyers said Airtel will be the official mobile operator of the 2012 Arsenal Tour to Nigeria.

He noted that the club’s has exciting style of play and a history of working with the best talents from Africa will enrich the partnership and offer a wealth of opportunities for upcoming players.

AFC is expected to support ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ football programme. This programme happens each year and young people, irrespective of gender, are given a chance to better on their talent.

“This is the second long-term partnership arrangement to arise from the continent and we look forward to developing a number of exciting initiatives with Airtel, starting with our forthcoming tour to Nigeria in August,” Arsenal’s Head of Global Partnerships Vinai Venkatesham was quoted saying.

The company has been associated with sports since it was first launched. In early May 2009, it signed a deal with Manchester United to broadcast all the matches to customers.

Also a 5-year deal was penned down with ESPN Star Sports in sponsoring Champions League Twentycricket tournament which was terminated because of Nokia. Currently, it’s the title sponsor of Formula OneIndian Grand Prix and 2011 season.

Arsenal will be in Nigeria for the first time in August this year.