ZAMBEEF Plc yesterday unveiled a K 9.4 million sponsorship package to the Zambia Table Tennis Association (ZTTA) for the inaugural Zambeef Open scheduled for the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka this Sunday.
Zambeef group head in charge of marketing, Perry Siame said at a media briefing at the company’s head office in Lusaka that the company was delighted to formally embark on a long-term relationship with ZTTA to enhance the sport.
Siame said Zambeef was looking forward to seeing its products work closely with the association to develop the sport through sponsorship of tournaments that would bring together young players and expose them to the sport.
He said Zambeef was proud to sponsor the inaugural prizes for the tournament and was confident that it marked the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two bodies.
“At this presentation and briefing, we are unveiling the 2012 prize package valued at K9.4 million towards the trophies, shield and players’ medals.
“An additional K2.6 million has been provided for logistics, bringing the total value of the sponsorship to K11.8 million,” Siame said.
He added that his company would also continue to subscribe to a number of United Nations millennium development goals specifically with regard to sport.
Speaking at the same occasion, ZTTA patron Haroon Ghumra said the full sponsorship of the tournament by Zambeef was a welcome move.
Ghumra said table tennis was a minor, non-spectator sport in the country, adding that the association had always been going round with a “begging bowl”.
He said the most heartening thing was Zambeef management’s decision to foster a long-term relationship with the association to promote the sport on a yearly basis.
Meanwhile, ZTTA has joined the sports fraternity in commending the Government’s decision to waive duty on sports equipment brought into the country.
Ghumra said the pronouncement by Government means that imported sports equipment would be cheaper and the burden on the stakeholders involved in sports programmes would therefore be reduced.
He said importation of good quality equipment at affordable prices would go a long way in helping to improve sports standards in the country.
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