HARP In Sponsorship Deal With Dolphins, Four Others

Harp Premium lager, a product of Guinness Nigeria Plc. has announced an exciting partnership with Dolphins Fc of Port Harcourt and four other football clubs in the Nigerian Professional Football League. The other clubs are: Heartland FC of Owerri, Rangers FC of Enugu, Sunshine Stars of Akure and  Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi. With this sponsorship, Harp Lager becomes the first beer brand in Nigeria to sponsor 5 football clubs in Nigerian Professional Football League.  The deals were signed and announced at an unvely ceremony held in Lagos this week.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, “This sponsorship is a reflection of Harp’s immense growth over the years in terms of its national coverage and consumer reach. This also reflects our commitment to enhancing the experience of football fans all over the country, hence identifying with these football Clubs. The five clubs were selected based on a growing fan-followership in each club’s respective home regions, and the accolades they have won over the years” Adetu said.

The Nigerian Professional Football League has evolved over the years into a force to be reckoned with. Nigeria’s victory at the recently concluded Nation’s cup attest to the immense contributions of some of our local league players like Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona who are true examples of the amazing professionals that play in our league.

Also, speaking at the event, Marketing & Innovation Director GNPlc, Mr. Austin Ufomba said: “Harp Premium Lager had been associated with music and entertainment in the past through platforms such as the Harp-Rhythm Unplugged with a huge success. However, we are always desirous of new channels to reach out to customers in more exciting ways; hence our choice of Nigerian league because football provides a ready avenue to engage with consumers on multiple levels”.

The sponsorship covers full-shirt branding rights, pitch panel visibility, live match coverage and placement, stadium branding and merchandising on match days, operating exclusive fan zones at match venues and exclusive branding of the clubs’ official supporters club.

Responding on behalf of the clubs, the General Manager, Dolphins Football Club, Dumbor Aawaneni (TBC) said they are excited at the deal.

“This is the first time we are witnessing a sponsorship of this proportion by a single brand for five clubs. Harp lager has not only demonstrated their support for indigenous football across the country, but has also effectively reached every Nigerian football fan that is so passionate about their home clubs. This is a first and we salute Harp for coming forward to engage with the multitude of fans at this level, with this announcement, Harp lager will find its way to the hearts and tables of fans across the country” Aawaneni lauded.

The financial deatsils of the deals were not revealed but Adetu disclosed that alhough the deals were exclussive the club remain at liberty to dtsclose.

It would be recalled that in 2012, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics ranked the Nigerian Premier League as the best and strongest league in Africa ahead of countries like Egypt and Tunisia. The Nigerian league is currently ranked the 24th position in the world.