City secure multi-million deal
Mbeya City now have financial power to sign top players
What you need to know:
- City, who finished third last season, have signed a two-year lucrative deal with the former Coastal Union sponsors
Dar es Salaam. It was all smiles for Mbeya City officials yesterday when the Mainland Premier League club sealed a multi-million deal with Bin Slum Tyres Limited.
City, who finished third last season, have signed a two-year sponsorship contract worth Sh360 million with the former Coastal Union sponsors, meaning that they are now developing the financial power to compete with heavyweights Simba, Young Africans and Azam FC.
The Mbeya-based team will be receiving Sh180 million annually (Sh15m a month), according to the company’s managing director, Nassoro Bin Slum.
Bin Slum said they feel proud to join a number of sponsors whose products will appear on the City jerseys. This means City, who made their first appearance in the elite league last season, will be earning a total of Sh343 million annually through sponsorship. They also receive Sh63 million from Vodacom Tanzania, who are the main sponsors of the league, and Sh100 million from co-sponsors Azam Media Limited. Bin Slum said the sponsorship contract was signed in Mbeya by the company’s director, Mohamed Bin Slum and the club leadership.
“Under the deal, jerseys of Mbeya City will bear our firm’s logos- RB Battery and Bin Slum,” he said.
He said they feel proud to be associated with City because the team performs impressively in both domestic and international competitions. “They (City) deserve such support. Last season, they won many hearts by finishing third in their debut appearance in the Premier League and their head coach, Juma Mwambusi was named the best coach in the league.
“They also fared well in the just concluded Cecafa Nile Basin Championship in Khartoum, Sudan.
“This is a clear indication that the club leadership can propel the team to higher heights if well supported,” he insisted. City defied the odds in the Nile Basin Championship to make it to the quarter finals.
For his part, Mbeya City chairman, Mussa Mapunda thanked the firm’s management for the support, noting that it was a timely boost ahead of the 2014/15 season.
