Cosafa lands two sponsors
The Flames should buckle up for a competitive 2015 Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup as the regional body has secured joint sponsorship for the event scheduled for May 17 to 31 in South Africa.
Malawi, who begin the campaign with a quarter-final meeting against Mozambique, have much at stake as the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (Cosafa) has secured sponsors Castle Lager and energy drink manufacturers, Power House.
FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed being communicated about the coming in of Castle Lager and Power House. However, Cosafa is yet to announce the actual sponsorship value.
“It’s a welcome development considering that we have been struggling as a region. Last year, it did not take place and we hope that it is a long-term sponsorship. This year, we want to win, but it all hinges on preparations,” Nyirenda explained yesterday.
Cosafa chief operations officer Sue Destombes announced the news on Tuesday alongside Power House South Africa chief executive officer Jude Obiadika and Alanstair Hewitt, general manager of Castle Lager.
“Cosafa was our exclusive sponsor for many years. After their contract ended in 2007, it has been a little bit off and on. A tournament of this magnitude—which, with 14 teams participating, is really second only in size on the continent to the Africa Cup of Nations and African Nations Champions—costs money,” Destombes said at Cosafa headquarters in Johannesburg.
She said the key to the joint sponsorship was that it was long-term with Castle coming on a five-year deal and Power House for a year.
Malawi are two-time Cosafa cup finalists and drew 1-1 with Tanzania on Sunday in a Cosafa warm-up game. Esau Kanyenda, who scored in Tanzania, is probably Malawi’s best Cosafa product having played in Under-20 Cosafa Cup before winning 2002 Cosafa Player of Series with the Flames.
“It is a healthier sponsorship situation than we had in the past,” Destombes said of the competition to be played in North West Province with Ghana and Tanzania as guest participants. Comoros and Angola will not participate.
Powerhouse’s Obiadiak said the Australian-based energy drink company, which also sponsors Chan, is “concentrating now on football sponsorship.
Hewitt added: “The Cosafa tournament is a wonderful opportunity for us to profile a southern African brand.”
