Netball South Africa - SPAR very good for netball

SPAR very good for netball

9 August 2010

Potchefstroom, South Africa - And the Magic number is: R 14 000 000

SPAR and Netball South Africa signing the contract. Bottom, from left: Brett Botten, Managing Director of SPAR Southrand and Mimi Mthethwa, President of Netball South Africa. Top, from left: Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr. Gert Oosthuizen, Blanche De La Guerre, Vice President of Netball South Africa, and Honourable Minister of Sport and Recreation Dr. Reverend M A Stofile.

Netball South Africa (NSA) had an extra reason to celebrate National Women’s Day on Monday when grocery giant SPAR announced that they were extending their sponsorship for a further three years.

Speaking at the opening of the SPAR national netball tournament in Potchefstroom, North Rand Managing Director Brett Botten said he had 14-million reasons to make the participants happy, because the sponsorship is worth R14million over the next three years.

“Sport provides an exciting platform on which to build our brand and women’s sport presents an excellent channel for this,” said Botten. The huge majority of our customers are women, and we believe that we have a duty to support them in return. Netball provides us with a great opportunity to demonstrate our support for our customers." “ Not many people know that Netball is South Africa’s second most popular sport (after soccer) and certainly the most popular sport amongst women, who are important role players in the new South Africa.”

R 14 000 000 pledged to Netball SA by SPAR

Botten said he was delighted to announce that SPAR had decided to continue their sponsorship of netball for another three years. He said the sponsorship would cover the national netball team, the national championships, a Tri-nations series, development, administration and the promotion of netball.

“ We are very serious about this partnership,” said Botten. “Having sponsored this beautiful game for the past eight years, SPAR believes that it has formed a sound and solid working relationship with Netball South Africa and our future together can only grow from strength to strength.”

NSA President Mimi Mthethwa said NSA were overjoyed by the decision. SPAR has been a loyal and devoted sponsor for the past eight years, ” she said. “ Without their support and assistance, it would be almost impossible to achieve the things we need to achieve. Many of the teams taking part in these championships would not have been able to do so if they had not had SPAR’s support. Their support for the national team, and their willingness to help the Proteas to get international exposure has meant that we have been able to start working our way back up the world rankings.”

Mthethwa said the sponsorship had also helped NSA with their transformation programme.
“ We believe we have done well with transformation, and with the support of SPAR and the Department of Sport and Recreation, we have come a very long way,” she said. “The netball family is very happy that our relationship with SPAR will continue to flourish.”

Sports Minister Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile praised SPAR for its continued sponsorship of netball.
“ Women’s sports often find it difficult to find sponsors, but SPAR be must lauded for their ongoing loyalty and support for the biggest women’s participation sport in South Africa,” said the Minister.

“ This sponsorship has enabled South Africa to become one of the world’s leading netball nations. It is fitting that the announcement of the continued sponsorship should be made on the day we celebrate the contribution of women to our beloved country. It is definitely a case of ‘SPAR good for you.’”

Content courtesy of: Jane Bramley
Images Courtesy of: Reg Caldecott

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