Telecom Lead Africa: Airtel Africa has entered into
an association with Arsenal Football Club to utilize their content rights in
Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda.
Additionally, Airtel has also got a hold on merchandising
and hospitality rights of Arsenal Football Club.
The partnership provides an impetus to the Airtel Rising
Stars in some of the countries that have produced amazing young talent and
whose youth teams have gone on to win FIFA Youth and Olympic tournaments,” said
Andre Beyers, chief marketing officer at Airtel Africa.
The pan-Africa operator has also become the official
mobile operator of the 2012 Arsenal Tour to Nigeria.
The three-year agreement will enable Airtel customers of
these five nations to win match tickets to watch this summer’s pre-season tour
fixture and receive exclusive Club content and news direct to handsets.
Airtel said that it is in finalizing arrangements that
will give selected consumers a chance to watch the match and interact with the
team in Abuja.
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,” said VinaiVenkatesham, head of global partnerships VinaiVenkatesham,
Arsenal.
Airtel kicks off under-16 soccer talent hunt
Arsenal will also be supporting the Airtel Rising Stars
football program, a multi-country grassroots soccer initiative, which was
recently kicked off in association with Manchester United, one of the best
soccer clubs in the world.
The program offers young boys and girls the opportunity
to play compete and showcase their talent to selectors in their respective
countries.
