Cranes in a multi-million partnership with BetLion 

May 18, 2018

BetLion will contribute money from each of the sh150m, 13-selection-weekly Cranes jackpots towards football development in the country. Participants will part with sh3, 000 to play the jackpot.

 PIC: FUFA marketing committee member, Rogers Byamukama (left) shakes hands with BetLion Group CEO Oliver Bates as FUFA first vice president Justus Mugisha and National Gaming Board Head of Publicity and Corporate Affairs Jonathan Kyeyune (right) look at Protea Hotel on May 17. (Credit:Michael Nsubuga)
 
SPONSORSHIP
 
KAMAPALA - The Uganda Cranes have landed a multi-billion sponsorship from betting company, BetLion that will see the team get a share on the company's revenue, receive technical support and also receive significant quantities of equipment for the next five years.
 
BetLion will contribute money from each of the sh150m, 13-selection-weekly Cranes jackpots towards football development in the country. Participants will part with sh3, 000 to play the jackpot.
 
The deal was unveiled on Thursday by BetLion group CEO, Oliver Bates and Managing Director, Lionel Kabenge during a press conference attended by a FUFA contingent that had; CEO Edgar Watson, vice president Justus Mugisha, EXCO member Rogers Byamukama and National Gaming Board Head of Publicity and Corporate Affairs, Jonathan Kyeyune at Protea Hotel.
 
Although no actual figures were divulged, Bates called it an unprecedented partnership that will have FUFA improving football from the top to the grassroots.
 
"We are excited to partner with the Cranes who want to turn into a global player and we are thrilled to partner with that vision.
 
"It is a long time multi-million dollar investment that will run up 2023. We are making the Uganda Cranes a stakeholder in our company, revenue share with the organisation and significant financial investment," Bates said.
 
He said the company will also offer technical support by bringing in coaches in the coming months to support the Cranes in their AFCON ambitions and the 2022 World CUP qualifiers.
 
BetLion will also offer football equipment including new kit (playing and training) to the Cranes and the various national teams below.
 
"We want to be part of the fabric of Ugandan sport and there is no better way to do it than partner with the Cranes," Bates stated.
 
All in all, it is a performance based on partnership that will have the Cranes receive even more from BetLion whenever they make strides in the FIFA rankings, qualify for continental championships like CHAN, AFCON and the World Cup.
 
Mugisha who represented FUFA president Moses Magogo said they were excited to get another partner of repute. He said this has been enabled by the good brand they had built at FUFA and the Cranes.
 
"We are excited to welcome BetLion to our family of sponsors. It is further proof of good stewardship of football in the country including governance, accountability, transparency and excellence as envisaged in our vision to be the number one footballing country in Africa on an off the field," Mugisha stated.
 
Byamukama said their task was now to ensure BetLion grows so as to benefit more from their revenue.
 
"This sponsorship is unique in a way that it gives us opportunity to share on the profits of Betlion.
 
"This is the first contract to reward our performance from the field of play; so we believe that this is going to motivate our players to perform even better on the field because the money is going to trickle down to the players.
 
"Already some players have been selected to be Betlion ambassadors, so we hope this is going to help us improve the standards of our game," Byamukama said.
 
FUFA CEO Watson said they will ensure the ‘unique' sponsorship follows the laid down principles of FIFA and as FUFA they had everything is in line with FIFA statutes.
 
National Gaming Board' Kyeyune said they had put out a frame work of CSR activities which betting companies will support and were working on laws to ensure more Ugandans are involved in owning and running the gaming industry.
 
BetLion becomes the seventh Cranes sponsors, joining Airtel, Nile Special, NIC, BIDCO, Ecobank and Rwenzori Water.
 
 
 

 

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