Since time immemorial, the two teams have always attracted the biggest crowds and therefore the biggest sponsorships in the country.
Also Read: New sponsorship deal for Chiefs, Pirates The two teams were the first to receive R20-million a season when they signed with Vodacom in 1998, and they were the first to get R30-million a season. When it comes to sponsorship, they have always been league leaders. Big Brands want to associate with big brands; it’s business … nothing personal.
However, we have learnt over the years in that biggest does not necessarily mean the best. In the last 10 seasons South African league football has not, I repeat, not been dominated by the two biggest brands.
A quick glance at the statistics reveals that the League has been won three times by Sundowns, three times by SuperSport, three times by Pirates and twice by Chiefs. The two Tshwane teams won their trophies in succession; that is three league titles in a row. Is that not what domination is?
Outgoing SuperSport United Chief Executive Jose Ferreira then goes on a rant saying: “I think if South African football has been in trouble for the last 10 years [is because] of the money pumped into the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. When I hear of a R1-billion sponsorship, I think we are all in serious trouble.”
Serious trouble, really? The League and its teams are attracting sponsors by the bucketload and all he could think of was that the league is in trouble?
Technically there are two teams in South Africa without a sponsor, Maritzburg United and Mamelodi Sundowns (who probably don’t need it). This represents a total turnaround of the situation in which South African football was once in before the first Vodacom/Chiefs/Pirates deal was signed.
Back then sponsorship was hard to come by and teams like Free State Stars and Ria Stars had to sell their status in the PSL because they could no longer survive without funding.
We have come a long way.
However, we are a long way from where we want to be; amongst the best leagues in the world in terms of play, not money. Football is played neither at the office nor at press conferences but on grass, at the stadium, on match-day.
If teams like SuperSport feel that sponsors are supporting one particular team they should do something about it from within. Why don’t they promote more players from the academy, buy players at a younger age and tie them to long-term contracts? Why don’t they market themselves more vigorously in their communities?
During these tough economic conditions, every business must remain shrewd and that does not exclude football teams looking to survive or thrive.
Siyavuya Madikane (Kick Off reader) Follow me on Twitter @siyamadikane
Your comments on this story...
Sponsors want to associate themselves wit big brands so they throw money into dis brands. What will happen to smaller brands. Mr Ferreira wena shlama se-writer was expressing his views and opinion on de matter. What if sundowns don't have Motsepe backing them. What re u saying is dat the ANC is doin a gud job on enriching de few while making sure the majority depends on monthly grant. Phela dat how ada team will survive. When jomo mention dat he would be happy if he played chiefs, so ezothola icheleta yase gatini. Dis is de seriousness dat ferreira we talking abt
You wrote a good & compelling arguement but lost a plot when you said Sundowns do not need a sponsorship. Sponsorship is not about money but about priceless prestige that other brands attach to your team. Without a sponsor Sundowns loses its brand status amongst its peers, it becomes an empty vessel that sponsors do not want to associate themselves with. This perception will have a negetive impact should Motsepe decides to sell or can nolonger afford to carry this team that can not even breakeven on gate takings.
A Sundowns without a sponsor is an indication of a sick organization that cannot create partnerships with other organisations for the betterment of the sport. A sad indication of a team in an ICU that does not understand Marketing & Brand building, profit maximization, etc. No wonder it is called a Spaza shop, a beauty queen is their brand manager whose focus in the past few years has been arranging beauty contests instead of increasing Downs support base from 200 to at least 201. Sundowns is populated by people who think like you who think they are entitled to Motsepe's money & do nothing in return to make Down a force to be reckoned with, a total contrast from what Natasha Built.
Siyavuya, have you asked yourself why Chealsea Or Man City, for example are sponsored even though are equally owned by the billionares?
@Brazilitto, you are too quick to insult other people but you go on & spew bile. You call the writer isihlama, mfene ndini you just wasted you data plan because what you said(besides insults) equal nothing.
Word
@Brazilitto, you are too quick to insult other people but you go on & spew bile. You call the writer isihlama, mfene ndini you just wasted you data plan because what you said(besides insults) equal nothing.
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• They can afford quality and experienced top players
• They can hire the best medical personnel
• They can have better training facilities
• Their travelling logistics becomes efficient ( they can cut down travelling time)
It is criminal to have two teams sharing a billion sponsorship when so many teams are struggling, when the country has so many poor people ( who happens to follow soccer), when the NFD and Vodacom league are so deprived. This is what is killing Bafana Bafana’s competitiveness. The same amount would have been ideal if it was splashed on school soccer development not this flawed big brands arguments. Capitalism at its best!!!!!
@ Siyavuya
You wrote a good & compelling arguement but lost a plot when you said Sundowns do not need a sponsorship. Sponsorship is not about money but about priceless prestige that other brands attach to your team. Without a sponsor Sundowns loses its brand status amongst its peers, it becomes an empty vessel that sponsors do not want to associate themselves with. This perception will have a negetive impact should Motsepe decides to sell or can nolonger afford to carry this team that can not even breakeven on gate takings.
A Sundowns without a sponsor is an indication of a sick organization that cannot create partnerships with other organisations for the betterment of the sport. A sad indication of a team in an ICU that does not understand Marketing & Brand building, profit maximization, etc. No wonder it is called a Spaza shop, a beauty queen is their brand manager whose focus in the past few years has been arranging beauty contests instead of increasing Downs support base from 200 to at least 201. Sundowns is populated by people who think like you who think they are entitled to Motsepe's money & do nothing in return to make Down a force to be reckoned with, a total contrast from what Natasha Built.
Siyavuya, have you asked yourself why Chealsea Or Man City, for example are sponsored even though are equally owned by the billionares?
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for the 1st time in my 5 years on this site hearing a Pierats supporter talking sense.
I won't call u wat u re. Sundowns is sponsoring Ubuntu Botho not de ada way 'round.
U re all missing de point, just lyk de writer. Myself, Hunt and Ferreira re not jealous of two pigs(khoza and bobby) taking all for themselves. We re worried abt wat will happen in de next 10 years. When we don't hav aba Motsepe, Goolam backing dis team. Will dey be able to survive.
Wena Mgududu sdididi can u imagine chealse or man city without their wealthy owner. If two clubs can get 1 billion for the next 20 years. Y they can't hav their own lig. And call it a richman soccer lig(RSL). I repeat, ANC inika oghxiwankulu imali, and the majority depends on grant. What will happen if de grant iphela, noma isihluleka ngisho nokuthenga isikwa.
Wena muketi ungazongidakelwa la
Do u know de Christian song which talks abt crossing the river Jordan. And u know dat river is smwhere in Europe, Middle east. Now if u go and tell those who sing it that they don't actually hav to die in order for them to cross it. Kodwa bangaya at anytym bayobhukuda khona if bethanda lol lol. Heaven is up there although we know ukuthi its just a space.
Nothing can be done by khoza and motaung, dis virus( world wide) is in and only the brave and honest generation will find de cure.
What am trying to say, if chiefs and pirate bethola 1 billion and the lyk of motsepe, Royal Bafokeng, Goolams, and the rest decide to pull out. We gonna end up wit a lig lyk spain and england.