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PUMA Zimbabwe has signed up three Zimbabwe senior national cricket team players who have been issued with cricket shoes as well as clothing for a year. The three cricketers signed are skipper and batsman Brendan Taylor and the fast bowling duo of left arm seamer Brian Vitori and right arm pace bowler Kyle Jarvis.
Taylor got batting shoes while Vitori and Jarvis were given bowling shoes.
According to Peter Ward, the finance director of Lenspruit Investments who are the Puma agents in Zimbabwe, the deal with the three cricketers is worth $12 000 and is valid for a year.
While the arrangement is from 1 July, the players were only handed the shoes and clothing last Wednesday ahead of Zimbabwe’s clash with India at Queens Sports Club.
In return, Ward said the players would be expected to avail themselves on six occasions during the duration of the agreement for activities being run by Puma Zimbabwe which include photoshoots at selected shops in Bulawayo and coaching clinics for aspiring cricketers in the city.
“We have signed up three national cricketers on a one year deal, the players are Brendan Taylor, Brian Vitori and Kyle Jarvis. We have given Taylor batting shoes while Vitori and Jarvis got bowling shoes. In identifying the three players we took guidance from people we trust in cricket circles. We looked for players who could give us good exposure at international level and the deal for each player is worth $4 000,’’ said Ward.
Neil Nesbitt, the managing director of Lenspruit Investments, said they hoped the sponsorship would inspire the three players to perform at their best on the international stage.
He disclosed that they were in the process of identifying more local sports stars to sponsor in future.
The company is in the process of identifying footballers as well as rugby players to be their brand ambassadors.
Internationally, the German sports clothing company is the main sponsor of Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt and there are a number of teams which use Puma.
The South African Football Association is one of the many associations that signed deals with Puma while Zimbabwe men’s national soccer teams use Puma even though Zifa has no deal with the sportswear company.
In the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, Hwange FC get their kits from Lenspruit Investments, who are the Puma agents in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter