Manchester United signs deal with Globacom

English Manchester United and Globacom, Africa's leading tele-communication, have signed a five year sponsorship contract which will net the club GBP 5 million a-year. The club and Globacom have been in discussions already since Nov 2009, but now the deal was officially signed.

As part of the deal, West African football cadets will have access and exposure to some of the best training facilities at the Manchester United Academy as a result of this arrangement as it covers the right of association in Nigeria, Benin Republic and Ghana.

Globacom is reputed to be Africa's biggest football sponsor and the Group's executive director, Paddy Adenuga, sees this deal as a way of providing opportunities for African youngsters with football skills. He said,  "At Globacom, we have consistently played a leading role in identifying opportunities and providing platforms for positive transformation of youths through football. This new partnership with the world's most famous football club will no doubt give impetus to the quest by kids in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic to become world stars."

The five year contract has something for West African fans of the English club other than this youth development component. Fans can get a dream package which will be an all expenses paid trip to watch 14 live matches of UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Premiership. Adenuga said "Globacom will continue to explore opportunities to satisfy the people's deep passion for football and we believe that we can enrich such experience by making it possible for fans to meet their club heroes and watch them play." Glo Mobile subscribers, who are also fans of Manchester United, can choose to receive regular team related information and updates.