Gunners sign kit deal with Umbro
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday February 7, 2020 12:07
Umbro will supply Gunners with training, playing, leisure kits and equipment while there is an obligation to source a financial sponsorship from next season.
“We cannot put value on the sponsorship, it is a purchase and sell deal for until the end of the season. Umbro will give us 500 replicas to sell, we are in a desperate position and we need the funds.
However from next they will prove us with costumed jerseys, and it is in the contract that Umbro has to find us a financial sponsorship at the start of the next season,” Gunners’ marketing manager, Bruno Masisi told Mmegi Sport this week.
“It is a good deal for Gunners as we are trying to sustain the team.
It is an open secret that Gunners is struggling with finances so this deal will help us keep afloat until the end of the season as we estimated to make close to P200,000 if we sell all the 500 replicas.”
Gunners had a technical sponsorship agreement with local brand, 90mins Plus Sportswear in 2018 which was terminated in 2019 when they roped in Italian sportswear company, Errea. The Errea deal apparently never materialised hence the team resorted to purchase MN Clothing kit owned by Mogakolodi Ngele, which they have been using for the majority of this season.
“We never had a deal with 90mins Plus or anyone that we know of. The issue has not been presented to us as the club’s interim committee. You should know that we have not had a playing kit this season.
We only bought playing kits from our pockets; we did not have a (technical) sponsor.
If anyone has a contract with the club, then they would have come forward for any contract that is alleged to be there.
A contract is materialised by promises being kept from both parties in the agreement. As of the moment some of the obligations never materialised so thus meaning the team does not have a kit sponsor,” Masisi said. Masisi further said the club is enrolling a new member registration programme that targets a minimum of 10,000 registrations.
“As part of trying to commercialise the club. We are embarking on a new membership registration programme. The last one we had was in August and the current committee does not have exact figures. We are targeting more than 10,000 members, Gunners is a big brand so I think it will be easy to attain those numbers. With those figures the club would be able to attract sponsors hence generate income for the club.”
Gunners sit two points above the relegation position in 12th spot. The team has been battling financial struggles over the past few seasons and saw their reputation dip over the course.
The team is expected to don the new jersey in their next league against BR Highlanders next weekend.