AFTER more than a year of negotiations between regional banking group, BancABC and Adidas, the world renowned international sportswear manufacturers are finally in town this evening to officially announce their engagement with giants Dynamos and Highlanders.
Report by Wellington Toni
The two giants — Zimbabwe’s most successful clubs — are sponsored by BancABC after they signed three-year deals in 2011, while Black Mambas, another Premiership club, is also sponsored by the same bank, but would benefit at a later stage.
Tonight, the stage belongs to Dynamos and Highlanders where finer details of the business transaction — the first of its kind in Zimbabwe — will be revealed.
In an earlier interview with NewsDay Sport when the deal was still at its infancy, BancABC marketing executive Cynthia Chizwina said: “This is for all the three teams that we sponsor. It’s not about a kit sponsorship, but we also want to have a structured approach to replicas.
“I am not at liberty to disclose finer details, but that is work in progress and we should be ready to make a formal announcement soon.”
But for now, the deal will focus on the two giants who have already donned some of the new kits for the 2013 season. On the issue of replicas, Dynamos fans have been depending on London club Chelsea’s jerseys while Highlanders fans have been content with the Orlando Pirates, Juventus and Newscastle outfit, in addition to some backyard — sewn jerseys.
These backyard sewn jerseys did not financially benefit the two clubs, but the latest developments will pour millions of dollars into the giants’ coffers via replicas.
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The bank also pays players’ and the technical teams’ salaries and early this year unveiled a$165 000 sponsorship for Dynamos for their Caf Champions League campaign. Dynamos reached the second round.
DeMbare unveiled their official Adidas kit against Black Mambas and Chicken Inn before donning it again against Tunisian visitors Club Athletic Bizertin for an African Champions League first round, second leg encounter in March.
Highlanders, on the other hand, returned to their traditional black and white striped jerseys in their season opener against Shabanie Mine, which they won 2-0 on Good Friday.
Adidas AG is a German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures sports clothing and accessories based in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany.
It is the holding company for the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company (including Ashworth), and Rockport. Besides sports footwear, Adidas also produces other products such as bags, shirts, watches, eyewear and other sports — and clothing — related goods. Adidas is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Germany and Europe and the second biggest sportswear manufacturer in the world.
Adidas was founded in 1948 by Adolf Dassler, following the split of Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik between him and his elder brother Rudolf. Rudolf later established Puma, which was the early rival of Adidas. Registered in 1949, Adidas is currently based in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Puma is also based in Herzogenaurach.
The company’s clothing and shoe designs typically feature three parallel bars, and the same motif is incorporated into Adidas’s current official logo. The company revenue for 2012 was listed at €14,48 billion.
In Africa, Adidas are the kit sponsors of African champions Nigeria and Cosafa neighbours Swaziland, Seychelles and Mauritius while in clubs they can count Botswana champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Zamalek, Al Ahly, Orlando Pirates, Ajax Cape Town, AmaZulu and DRC giants TP Mazembe.
