Arsenal Football Club and African mobile network operator Airtel have today signed a three-year partnership agreement.

The deal provides Airtel with the opportunity to utilise the Club’s merchandising, hospitality and content rights in five markets: Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda.

The agreement will help the north London side reach some of its 42million fans across the continent. Airtel customers in Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda will have the opportunity to win match tickets to watch this summer’s pre-season tour fixture and receive exclusive Club content and news direct to handsets. In addition to the agreement, Airtel will be designated as the official mobile operator of the 2012 Arsenal Tour to Nigeria.

Arsenal will also support the Airtel Rising Stars football programme, an annual grassroots training initiative that offers young boys and girls the opportunity to play football and compete in a safe environment. Airtel donates money for each goal scored at the tournament to support the players’ education to ensure those involved don’t only get best-in-class sports training and opportunities, but also have better opportunities to further their academic studies. The Gunners will provide UEFA-trained coaches to assist with training in each of the five markets and at an Arsenal Coaching Clinic for up to 50 footballers in London.

Arsenal’s Head of Global Partnerships Vinai Venkatesham added: “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, starting with our forthcoming tour to Nigeria in August. This underlines the depth of our following in Africa and how the profile of the Club continues to grow internationally.”

Airtel Africa Chief Marketing Officer, Andre Beyers added: “Football fans across Africa are known for their passion of the great game. Arsenal’s exciting style of play and a history of working with the best talent from Africa will enrich this partnership and offer a wealth of opportunities for upcoming players and fans. 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.’’

It is the Club’s inaugural pre-season tour of Nigeria, having played a fixture in South Africa in 1993. The 2012 visit will feature a game between the Arsenal first-team and the Nigerian National Team the Super Eagles on Saturday 5th August. Airtel is in the process of finalising arrangements that will give selected consumers in the five countries a chance to watch the match and interact with the team in Abuja. The details of the promotion will be announced soon.

source: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-announce-partnership-with-airtel

canuck: Poof! There goes all Airtel subscribers who are Chelsea, Man U, Man City, Spurs, etc fans!

This is a not-so-smart move for a consumer product company.

I doubt it will make any difference. People are not that stuupid.

Desperate Arsenal needs financial bailout.

canuck: Poof! There goes all Airtel subscribers who are Chelsea, Man U, Man City, Spurs, etc fans!

This is a not-so-smart move for a consumer product company.

Supporting a sports platform is far more rewarding and less treacherous than supporting a single club.

Glo => Man U

Etisalat => Barca

Airtel => Arsenal

Phew! Two funny people coming together. U can easily see d end from the beginning.

afam4eva:
I doubt it will make any difference. People are not that stuupid.

LOL

question: Desperate Arsenal needs financial bailout.

U missed the point.. Arsenal is not desperate.. Airtel sees a unique opportunity and are cashing in.
Stop being a hater!

question: Desperate Arsenal needs financial bailout.

Are you on some weeed or something , Arsenal, Man u and Chelsea which club is in a huge debt. Definitely not self-sustaining gunners

question: Desperate Arsenal needs financial bailout.

Who needs financial bail out?if u don't have anything to say shut up

ariy:

Glo => Man U

Etisalat => Barca

Airtel => Arsenal

What about MTN? Enyimba?

ikee: What about MTN? Enyimba?

Dubic => Enyinba

MTN => Fuji Music

question: Desperate Arsenal needs financial bailout.

you need proper education about arsenal as a club and how this deals work.

Stop the beaf

Guys, No offence intended. I am no hater.
Bottomline of the deal... They are looking for a platform to monitor and select of fresh young, cheap, talented african footballers.

T.Moni:


you need proper education about arsenal as a club and how this deals work.

Stop the beaf

the one in oxford dictionary or nairaland?

Imagine MTN going for CHELSEA

Glo => Man U

Etisalat => Barca

Airtel => Arsenal[quote][/quote]



mind u
Etisalat=> Man city

canuck:


Aaaahhh. . .MTN should go for Tottenham! [color=#000099] CHELSEA They both suck! Big names, poor delivery.

[/color]

MTN is going for CHELSEA.

ariy:

the one in oxford dictionary or nairaland?

I'll go 4 d 1 on NAIRALAND.

The Title should av been Manutd Share/Drop Airtel for Arsenal

Two confused brands...i wont be surprised if arsenal starts to change its name yearly.

canuck:

It's not stupidity, but the strong emotions club fans have. Defection from the brand is a risk Airtel needs to manage.

For example, taking out full page adverts supporting Gunners on the eve of a key match between Arsenal and Chelsea will spell danger o

I think you are taking this football thing too serious. folks are not that gullible.

Bottomline of the deal... They are looking for a platform to monitor and select of fresh young, cheap, talented african footballers.[img]http://www.demama.info/g.gif[/img]

question: Desperate Arsenal needs financial bailout.

u mean the fourth richest club in world? i swear na cow u be