Moorosi Tsiane
PREMIER league outfit, Linare have secured a second sponsor after signing a deal with food franchise, Barcelos, in a move that could go a long way in addressing the financial woes that plagued them last season.
Barcelos joins Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG) as the second sponsor of the Hlotse outfit whose limited resources last season resulted in players boycotting training sessions on a few occasions to force management to pay them allowances.
The club finished 11th in the 14-team Vodacom Premier League.
Linare spokesperson, Refiloe Makhobotloane confirmed the partnership with Barcelos in an interview with the Sunday Express on Friday.
He said they had agreed that Barcelos would buy supporters’ gear for the team and place their logo on the front while the club’s replica shirts would retain the LNIG logo in front.
“Barcelos will buy the gear which we will sell to supporters to generate funds for the team as we had noticed that most of our problems were caused by lack of financial support,” Makhobotloane said, adding, “the money we get from our main sponsors, LNIG, is not enough to meet our needs”.
“In return, we will give Barcelos millage by having their logo on the front of the t-shirts. This is only on supporters gear while the players’ replica shirts will continue to bear the LNIG logo because they are remain our main sponsors.”
He said the deal with Barcelos would not cause complications between them and LNIG because the insurance company had declined to take up the offer to sponsor the fans’ gear after being given first priority.
“We understand the need to maintain good relations and we did not jump them (LNIG). They were given first priority but they didn’t have much interest in it and Barcelos were willing to help.”
Makhobotloane said they were also in the market to bolster their team but he was reluctant to reveal their targets.
He also refused to comment on rumours linking Lioli’s want-away utility player Jeremia Kamela with a move to the green and white outfit.
“We didn’t have a good season so the aim is to bolster the team with quality players but I am not in a position to reveal their names as doing so might jeopardise negotiations with their teams,” he concluded.
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