Teboho Molapo MASERU — Likuena are this afternoon expected to finally don their new attire when they take on Sao Tome in a crucial encounter at Setsoto Stadium.
This follows the unveiling of a five-year sponsorship deal between the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) and a local company, Basutoland Ink at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena on Thursday.
Under the deal, believed to be worth between M300 000 and M400 000 a year, Basutoland Ink will supply all national teams with kit.
Speaking to the Sunday Express at the unveiling ceremony, Basutoland Ink marketing manager, Karabo Maitin, said the deal was a huge achievement.
“It’s a very happy day. This has been a long time coming. Not only are we going to derive profits we are also contributing to the development of Lesotho. It’s a big day for our country,” Maitin said.
There are still two more kits coming on the way, a dark royal blue and a white away kit.
“It’s a victory for youth entrepreneurship. It’s not only about us, we hope it will inspire others as well,” Maitin said.
“The profit will be determined by Basotho.”
Maitin said Basutoland Ink had hired an expert to do the design.
“It’s a unique design. We got a freelance guy from Romania who does work for popular brands Nike and Adidas and he came up with the design. Lefa loved it straight away. Wait until you see the blue one and the white kit,” he added.
“It’s a dry fit (material), the same that is used by Nike,” Maitin said. “Every time the team steps out on to the field, that will be about M40 000 worth of sponsorship.”
Lefa president Salemane Phafane hailed the deal and urged Basotho to support the product.
An enthusiastic Lefa spokesman, Baba Malephane, said: “Let’s invite others, let’s support our product.”
Apart from supplying kits to all national football teams Basutoland Ink sweetened the deal by promising M5 million cash in incentives to national soccer teams that qualify for any Fifa-accredited tournament.
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