Kaizer Chiefs signed an agreement with Acer, a leading information technology company, on Wednesday in what managing director Kaizer Motaung described as a push to get the Chiefs brand known worldwide, writes Thomas Kwenaite.
The arrival of the computer company at Naturena increases the team's partners to eight, with Vodacom being the main sponsors.
The others are Nike, Ericssons, Damaat & Tween, Energade, Nestle and Boston City Campus. It is also believed that Standard Bank and M-Net are also keen to get involved with the club.
Motaung said it was important the club got involved with a partner that was a one of the leaders in the information technology field.
He said the deal will be beneficial to both partners.
"In the past, we have always entered into commercial relationships that were predominantly towards the direct benefit of the club," said Motaung.
"This partnership will also be to the betterment of the lives of our people."
Chiefs players will be trained in computer literacy.
Amakhosi have an estimated 13-million supporters, according to research conducted by the computer company at the 320 active supporters' branches throughout the country. The company will provide the branches with computers to establish Chiefs Cyber Centres over the next three years.
"Our mission statement states that we break down barriers between people and technology' and we envisage a situation where this partnership will give the community access to information and communication," said Acer marketing manager Stella Helwick.
- Sundowns coach Ted Dumitru said on Wednesday the list of the 13 players he would like to place on transfer has been withheld until the club's directors returned from overseas. Sundowns are believed to have signed Namibian internationals Mogale Naruseb and Quinton Jacobs.
- Reuters reports that Argentina midfielder Juan Veron flew into England on Wednesday to complete the formalities of his British record £23,5-million transfer to Manchester United from Lazio.