Nigeria’s leading beer brand, Hero Lager has signed a sponsorship deal with top Nigerian club side, Enyimba FC of Aba for the forthcoming COPA Lagos beach soccer competition.
The deal will see Enyimba FC donning their jersey for their match with Pepsi Football Academy, with Hero Lager emblazoned on it.
The deal was sealed at a meeting between officials of Enyimba FC led by their Chairman, Mr. Felix AnyansiAgwu and the Sales Director and Marketing Manager of Hero Lager; Mr. Godwin Oche and Mrs Jennifer Balogun respectively.
On hand to witness the partnership signing was Mr. Samson Adamu, Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, organizers of the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament.
Giving reasons for the choice of Enyimba FC, Oche said both brands share several similarities and ambitions.
“Hero Lager has a lot of similarities with Enyimba FC. Both had humble beginnings from the South East, and have within a short time grown to continental brands, on the verge of becoming global brands,” he said.
According to him, just like Enyimba FC, Hero started as a regional brand from the south eastern part of the country, pointing out that it has since grown to become one of the biggest and the most successful beer brands in Africa, standing proudly at third position among its old and established peers.
In addition, he said, Hero Lager, just like Enyimba which became the first club in the continentto win the CAF Champions League back to back, has won several awards in Nigeria and in Africa,as well as a global award.
Speaking in the same vein, Balogun described the partnership as very important, not only for COPA Lagos, but also one worth pursuing long term, including sponsorship of the club in the Nigerian Premier League and continental completions.
“We are absolutely honoured and delighted to be a part of this partnership. If the Hero brand can achieve the heights as Enyimba
Football team has done, that will be the ultimate dream for the business. Enyimba FC is the only
Nigerian club to favourably compete for attention of Nigerians with clubs in the English Premier League and other European leagues, and it is no mean feat,” she said.
Anyansi commended Hero Lager for their foresight in venturing into football sponsorship, and expressed the belief that the brand will never regret its foray into football.
He thanked the brand for the support, and promised that Enyimba FC will help to promote the brand, not just in the South East, but across the country and the continent.
