PUMA, the Global Sports Lifestyle Brand, through its official Franchisee in Nigeria, Persianas Retail Limited has signed a five-year partnership deal with ABS Ilorin FC, a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubside.
The partnership, according to Miss Aderemi Adefolabi, the Brand Manager-PUMA, Persianas Retail Limited, is the first of its kind in the history of Nigerian football saying that it involves the provision of kit and sponsorship of the activities of the NPFL club side till year 2022.
At the unveiling ceremony of the PUMA-ABS FC jersey held at the Palms Mall, Ilorin, Kwara State on Thursday, June 1, 2017, Adefolabi also said that the partnership is in line with Puma’s commitment to the growth and development of sports in Nigeria.
In her words: “ABS Ilorin FC has shown potentials of being a great club not just in Nigeria, but also in Africa and this has informed PUMA’s decision to provide the necessary support for it to achieve its potentials”.
She continued, “All over the world, PUMA has shown strong commitment to the development of the round-leather game and its sponsorship across leading football clubs and national teams. Some of the teams that have benefitted from PUMA’s partnership include Arsenal FC, Borussia Dortmund and Sydney FC. Some of the national teams that have also benefitted from PUMA’s partnership include Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Uruguay.
On his part, Seni Saraki, Chairman, ABS FC said the partnership with PUMA aligns with the club’s vision for where the club is right now, and where they will be in the future. He added that PUMA, being a world and renowned brand is known for delivering top level results whilst being innovative, saying this is what ABS Ilorin symbolizes.
“Partnering with a global brand like PUMA gives us the exposure the club needs to showcase what we are doing and the talent we have. This will help us achieve our goals both on and off the pitch’, he said assuring that the club will use the opportunity that the partnership provides to contest for honors in the Nigerian and international football scenes.
The unveiling ceremony of the PUMA-ABS Jersey was witnessed by Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and high profile sports administrators in Nigeria including Amaju Pinnick, the Nigeria Football Federation President and Shehu Dikko, the Chairman, League Management Company.
