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23.03.2006 Football News

Stanbic Bank pumps 2.5million dollars for CAN rights

23.03.2006 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, March 23, GNA - Stanbic Bank has pumped 2.5 million dollars to earn the right as the official sponsors of the next MTN/CAF Cup of Nations pencilled for Ghana in 2008 and for the Champions League competition.

Stanbic Bank, known internationally as Standard Bank, announced the signing of the three-year renewable contract with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Accra on Thursday. Jimmy Mabon, Managing Director of the Bank said it was the Bank's commitment towards the promotion of the game on the continent that influenced its decision to sponsor the event. He said the company would ride high on the unifying force that the globular leather presents to enhance the game's promotion. "Our sponsorship is a humble contribution to help uplift football to reach its full potentials. "We believe in the future of African Football and its potential to become an economic giant to compete with the global power blocs on the sporting front".

The Bank, which has 17 branches spread across the continent, is expected to contribute towards programmes such as the country's infrastructural development ahead of the competition, which is Ghana's second in six years. Ghana is expected to build two new stadia at Sekondi and Tamale with the refurbishment of the Accra and Kumasi stadias to meet the competition's requirement. The Managing Director said his outfit was determined to make the 2008 competition a huge success in their quest to deepen the passion that soccer presents on the continent.

Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports said the sponsors made the choice of their lives by associating themselves with the competition which heads to Ghana. "It is always said in CAF circles that the best tournament is the next one. Stanbic Bank has therefore made the best choice by associating with and sponsoring the CAN 2008 and the Champions League", he added. He underscored the immense privilege the Stanbic Bank would derive from sponsoring the event which is the biggest biannual soccer piece on the continent. The Minister pledged Ghana's commitment to hosting a memorable event when the rest of Africa trek to the country from January to February 2008.

Suleman Habuba, Communications Director of CAF was buoyant that the sponsorship deal would help change the face of the game in Africa. "We at CAF are very elated about this sponsorship because we believe it would change a lot of things and make a great impact on the game".

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