Guinness Presents $400,000 To Stars

The senior national team, the Black Stars will receive an annual direct sponsorship contribution of $400,000 from beverage giants, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) over the next three years. Mr. Seni Adetu, the Managing Director of GGBL disclosed this at a contract renewal ceremony to announce the company’s Beverage Sponsorship package with the Black Stars at the offices of the Ghana Football Association in Accra yesterday. In addition, GGBL will provide non-alcoholic Malta Guinness to the team for local camping and matches. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Seni Adetu commended the GFA for their efforts and partnership in making this beverage renewal arrangement a success. “Guinness believed in the greatness of the Black Stars when only a few thought they were worth supporting. The fact that we are here today is a testament to our continued belief in them, and we will continue to support them in the future”, the Guinness Boss stated. Mr. Adetu added: “The Black Stars carry Ghana’s colours across the globe; they excite the passion of the nation, and naturally, we consider supporting their cause a duty to the nation.” The Guinness Boss reminded the GFA to be extra vigilant against ‘ambush marketing’ by rival companies in order to enhance the good relationship and collaboration between the two organizations. He also praised the Black Stars for demonstrating the greatness in them during the just-ended 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament. He said though the team did not win the ultimate prize, the Black Stars were ranked the best on the African continent and 14th in the world- their best position ever. While congratulating them for the successful start to the 2010 CAN and World Cup campaign last Sunday against Libya, Mr. Adetu urged them to win the tickets to Angola and South Africa respectively in 2010. The GGBL MD signed the new sponsorship contract with the GFA and presented the cheque for US$400,000 to the Football Association. Receiving the cheque and the contract documents, Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA lauded Guinness for its gesture and said the event was a clear manifestation of the company’s consistent commitment to the cause of the Black Stars. He stressed that the Guinness package had come at the right time and expressed the hope that the company would bring its profile as a successful company to bear on the fortunes of the Black Stars while the team prepared for the African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifying matches to Angola and South Africa in 2010. The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Hon. O.B. Amoah said, “As government, we appreciate the role that Guinness Ghana Breweries has played to bring the Black Stars this far.” He commended the Management of GGBL for the company’s continuous support to the senior national team, the Black Stars. It would be recalled that Guinness has since 1998 put its weight behind the Black Stars as the official beverage sponsors of the team.