Globacom, CAF Renew Football Awards Deal

Globacom, CAF Renew Football Awards Deal
Francis Ehikhaese, Lagos


Telecommunications giant, Globacom Limited and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have renewed the sponsorship agreement for the annual African Football Awards.

The official signing ceremony for new deal on Friday August 27 th at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, comes five years after both parties signed a historic agreement in Paris, France. The Glo-CAF award honours African footballers and administrators who distinguish themselves in a particular year.

At the event, CAF President Issa Hayatou hailed Globacom for the sponsorship, saying the partnership has projected the awards to higher heights.

In his words, '' During the last five years, Globacom has taken the awards to new dimensions, we urge them to redouble their efforts to improve upon their past records to make the events among the best on the global scene.''

The decision to renew the deal was announced in December, 2009, after both parties expressed satisfaction with the partnership which has seen the awards, known as the Glo-CAF Awards, listed in world football's annual events calendar.

Elevation to world class event
Globacom investment in the awards and ceremony has elevated it to a world class event, attracting dignitaries from FIFA , UEFA and other continental football bodies. The 2005 edition, held in Abuja, Nigeria, was attended by the former President of Barcelona FC of Spain, Juan La Porta who accompanied Samuel Eto'O to the ceremony.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President, Mitchel Platini, were among world soccer personalities that graced the 2008 edition, also in Lagos, Nigeria .

The events have also attracted several African leaders including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo , former Ghanaian presidents, John Kuffour and John Jerry Rawlings and former Togolese Prime Minister, Komlan Mally .

Investments spurred by feedback

Globacom said it has invested over $10m in rights fees and events' organisation of the award ceremony in the past five years.

“Globacom has added glamour to this event and the feedback from our guests is that it is an experience they long to enjoy many times,” Mrs. Omodele Sarafa-Yusuf, Head, Sponsored Assets Unit of Globacom said.

Summarising the company's involvement in the last five years Sarafa-Yusuf said: “When in 2005, the Confederation of African Football accepted our bid to sponsor the annual African Footballer of the Year Awards, Globacom made a promise to raise the quality of the awards organisation. We promised to touch lives in Africa, especially that of the African youths who find expression for their talents through football. Five years after, we look back with pride and sense of accomplishment that the CAF Awards have become a premium event in world football calendar.”

Globacom also declared that it had succeeded in creating in African players a sense of self worth by elevating the ceremony to an event that has captivated the global football media and stakeholders.

The last five editions of the awards ceremony were held in Abuja in 2005, Accra in 2006, Lome in 2007, Lagos in 2008 and Accra in 2009.

Edited by Yinka Atolagbe