2010: first local sponsor signed
Themba Gadebe and Silindiwe Dube
7 July 2006South African bank, First National Bank (FNB) has signed on as the first local sponsor of the 2010 Football World Cup in a deal worth USD 30 million (about R216 million).
"This deal marks an important moment in our joint journey to the first FIFA World Cup on African soil," said FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was speaking from Berlin, Germany.
"The fact that FNB has joined the sponsor family of the 2010 Soccer World Cup shows how much the event is supported by the South African economy," he said, adding "we are looking forward to a successful relationship".
This announcement comes ahead of the unveiling of the official emblem of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in Berlin on Friday.
Sponsorship package
Addressing the media in Johannesburg on Thursday, the bank’s Modise Mothlodi said the FNB was proud to take the role of the "official bank" of the tournament.
For this reason, FNB will provide full service banking including commercial and cooperate transactional banking, foreign exchange transactions and on and off-site ATMs at various locations serving the FIFA competitions.
These competitions are the 2010 Soccer World Cup and a FIFA Confederation Cup in 2009.
The support comes with a package of advertising, promotional and marketing rights for both competitions in the financial products category within South Africa.
'Rich' soccer heritage
Speaking from Berlin, FNB Chief Executive Officer Michael Jordan said the sponsorship added to the bank’s "rich" soccer heritage since 1986.
He explained that the bank was the first cooperate in the country to invest in South African football when it assisted with the construction of the FNB stadium in the 80s.
The bank also lashed out at recent media speculation that South Africa could lose the tournament to Australia due to "inadequate preparations".
Mothlodi emphasised that the bank was unequivocal in its support of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
FIFA reiterated this week that the tourney would be held in South Africa with the assurance of LOC chief Danny Jordaan that South Africa was ahead of schedule to host a successful soccer tournament.
Source: BuaNews
