London giant side Arsenal football club has signed a three year deal with Airtel that will provide the leading mobile phone company an opportunity to utilize the club’s merchandising, hospitality and content rights in five countries; Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda. According to the partnership Arsenal will provide coaches that will be sent to conduct soccer clinics during the Airtel Rising Stars and will also send legends of the club to interact with the youthful players during the competition,but at the same time teach the players how to adapt the style the club uses of the pitch.
‘I am delighted to welcome Airtel into our family of Commercial Partners. 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.” Gordon Tannock, Arsenal’s Partner Services Manager said. ‘This underlines the depth of our following in Africa and how the profile of the Club continues to grow internationally.”
As if that’s not enough, Airtel Uganda for the next three months will be running a highly exciting promotion around this partnership dubbed ARSENAL-AIRTEL JOIN THE CLUB. Airtel customers, Arsenal fans and Ugandans at large will win big when they participate in a draw by sending an SMS; ‘Arsenal” to 154 at a cost of 800 shillings per SMS, participate in a trivia and automatically enter the draw to win the daily prizes including 5 million, personalized Arsenal jerseys and footballs and ultimate prize in which tickets will be awarded for two individuals every week to go watch an Arsenal match live at the Emirates stadium.