Sports / Local
Bosso not happy with the Adidas deal
16 Jun 2013 at 11:00hrs | Views
Highlanders are not happy about the technical sponsorship deal with Germany sports apparel manufacturer Adidas.
While they have appeared in public as excited, Dembare and Bosso feel it is a raw three-year deal with no substantial benefits.
Adidas are now the official suppliers of training and match kits and other related apparel for Bosso, in a deal brokered by a local bank who are the two team's prime sponsors.
Each club has been supplied with 2 500 replica jerseys and will be gaining a meagre 7% from the sale of each shirt which costs US$50 and translates to a total of US$8 750 earned by either club.
Sponsorship does not cascade down to junior teams and so far each club has been given one set playing kit.
Away from a regular sponsorship arrangement enjoyed by most clubs endorsed by Adidas where teams wear a new kit every game, Dynamos and Highlanders would be provided with more kits depending on the number of replicas they sell.
After glowingly praising Adidas in his speech during the launch of the deal in Harare recently, Dynamos chairman Keni Mubaiwa now has different thoughts.
"Taking 7% from the sale of each jersey does not take us anywhere. That is an area we need to sort out as early as possible," said Mubaiwa.
A senior Highlanders official complained that while other teams are paid for using the world-acclaimed brand, they have to make do with little financial rewards while they market Adidas.
"The US$8 750 we are going to be getting from the sale of replicas is far short of the club's one week operation costs. It is a raw deal and anyone can see that. We have just accepted this kind of sponsorship hoping there will be improvements in future. Maybe for a start it is fine," said the official.
He said the clubs are grand football institutions with local support, as well as ardent following from Zimbabweans dotted around the world, which is an assurance that the Adidas brand would be immensely marketed.
While the clubs are complaining that so far they have each received only one set of kit and had little input in striking the deal which was facilitated by BancABC, the bank's managing director Hashmon Matemera said the teams have not registered their displeasure with them.
While they have appeared in public as excited, Dembare and Bosso feel it is a raw three-year deal with no substantial benefits.
Adidas are now the official suppliers of training and match kits and other related apparel for Bosso, in a deal brokered by a local bank who are the two team's prime sponsors.
Each club has been supplied with 2 500 replica jerseys and will be gaining a meagre 7% from the sale of each shirt which costs US$50 and translates to a total of US$8 750 earned by either club.
Sponsorship does not cascade down to junior teams and so far each club has been given one set playing kit.
Away from a regular sponsorship arrangement enjoyed by most clubs endorsed by Adidas where teams wear a new kit every game, Dynamos and Highlanders would be provided with more kits depending on the number of replicas they sell.
"Taking 7% from the sale of each jersey does not take us anywhere. That is an area we need to sort out as early as possible," said Mubaiwa.
A senior Highlanders official complained that while other teams are paid for using the world-acclaimed brand, they have to make do with little financial rewards while they market Adidas.
"The US$8 750 we are going to be getting from the sale of replicas is far short of the club's one week operation costs. It is a raw deal and anyone can see that. We have just accepted this kind of sponsorship hoping there will be improvements in future. Maybe for a start it is fine," said the official.
He said the clubs are grand football institutions with local support, as well as ardent following from Zimbabweans dotted around the world, which is an assurance that the Adidas brand would be immensely marketed.
While the clubs are complaining that so far they have each received only one set of kit and had little input in striking the deal which was facilitated by BancABC, the bank's managing director Hashmon Matemera said the teams have not registered their displeasure with them.
Source - thestandard
