Gunners, All Kasi close to clinching deal

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Thursday August 23, 2012 00:00

Gunners' spokesperson, Abdul Kgengwenyane told Mmegi Sport yesterday that they have agreed on many important segments of the deal though they are yet to formally sign the contract and ultimately launch the partnership. 'What I can tell you now is that we are having very fruitful negotiations with All Kasi to dress our team in the coming season. We have not yet signed a deal, but we have agreed on a good number of things and hopefully it will be concluded next week,' Kgengwenyane said.

He said they considered a number of companies to come on board as technical sponsors including Nike. Recently All Kasi lost out to Nike in sponsoring Team Botswana to the London 2012 Olympics. Kgengwenyane said once everything is agreed, they would draw up a formal contract that will be signed by both parties, followed by the launch of a new kit for the coming season. He said every detail on the deal would be announced during the launch. However, All Kasi marketing director, Barnes Maplanka would not be drawn into discussing the proposed deal.

'Let us talk about it next week. I can not say anything right now,' he said before cutting the conversation short.After losing out to British sportswear manufacturer Umbro in a bid to dress the Zebras national team earlier this year, All Kasi came back launching a series of new kit designs for different sports codes, thereby making their intentions clear to dominate the local sportswear scene. The company, owned by Tsa Gae (Pty), is also rumoured to be close to sealing a deal with another Lobatse Premier League club, BMC.Meanwhile, Kgengwenyane said the team has started pre-season training well as new coach China Matlhaku gets to understand the players before making recommendations on where to strengthen the team.Gunners are understood to be interested in a good number of players among them, Hillary Madzivanyika and Lesego Lubinda who were deemed surplus to requirements at neighbours BMC, but seen as handsome additions by cross town rivals BMC. The team was at the weekend in Hukuntsi where the boys played two games against Hukuntsi selected sides, winning both games 3-0 and 4-1 respectively.