FNB commits to soccer development
From left to right: Chairperson of Eleven Arrows Gabriel Tjombe, Black Africa chairperson Boni Paulino, FNB CEO Ian Leynaar, Taara Shanika Chairpersons of FNB Orlando Pirates at the FNB Headquarters in Windhoek this week the sponsorship announcement (Photograph by Freeman Ngulu).
FNB CEO Ian Leynaar said, “These teams have each made great progress with the development of their clubs and football in general in Namibia during the past football season and continue to show integrity in everything they do.”
“For us at FNB, one of the strategies is to reach our vision to be the local world class financial services provider of first choice through value added partnerships. The partnership between FNB and the three football teams has come a long way, both in time but more so in a common approach to the creation of value and success,” Leynaar added.
FNB has over the past five years contributed N$20 million in sport at approximately N$5,5 million per annum.
The new agreement between the three soccer teams and FNB means that FNB will annually pay more than N$800,000 to each FNB sponsored team for three years or as long as the teams end up in the top 10 of the Namibia Premier League. The amounts may change during the second and third year as it will be based on how each team helps FNB create value through this sponsorship.
An additional N$100,000 and N$50,000 will be availed should any of the FNB sponsored teams end in first or second place on the log respectively.
Chairperson of Eleven Arrows, Gabriel Tjombe announced that the team as of next season will rebrand itself as FNB Eleven Arrows. The team has used some of the funds in establishing an under thirteen tournament in the Erongo Region as well as a debate club. The other teams have also vowed to continue community initiatives in representing the FNB brand.
Taaras Shanika, Chairperson of FNB Orlando Pirates said that the support will not be in vain.
“Contributing the socialisation of football is a motivation for greater aspirations, which includes not only sponsorship of soccer at NPL level, but also cricket and rugby premier league clubs,” he added.
FNB is also the proud sponsors of some of the hottest sport properties in Namibia such as the FNB Classic clashes, the FNB Desert Dash, Otjihavera Mountain bike Marathon, and the FNB Schools Mountain Bike League.
