Moorosi Tsiane

VODACOM Premier League (VPL) side Swallows FC has signed indefinite sponsorship deals with Maluti Wool and Mohair and Secret Lounge.

The deals were announced at ceremony in Mazenod on Friday.

Maluti Wool and Mohair managing director David Telford said the marriage will be an on-going deal that is not bound by any timeframes.

He said this was part of a long-term plan which would start with the provision of transportation and a playing kit for the team. The company will also provide the team with material support as and when requested.

“As we operating in the Masianokeng area, we must also look at ways that we can help develop the people, their football and other community-related matters,” Telford said.

“We are sponsoring Swallows initially with money for transport and a football kit among other things.”

For a long time, Swallows has been a feeder team for other sides producing many talented players but the side has been encountering financial challenges.

Therefore, Telford said they would try to help the team retain its talented players while also introducing a female team.

“We would like to support the team and help it develop young players whom it can retain. The team is changing every year because players move to greener pastures.

“We will also try to employ some of the players and give them an income because in Lesotho is very difficult to be a good footballer if you are not working because you can’t afford to eat properly or take care of your family because the country doesn’t have a professional league yet,” said Telford.

Telford also said they have not attached any value to the sponsorship.

For his part, Secrete Lounge director Teboho Motsamai said the partnership was their way of giving back to the Mazenod community.

The sponsorship entails the provision of food to the club, Motsamai could however, not be drawn into saying how long the sponsorship would last.

“We cannot say how long we will be sponsoring the team but we have an annual budget of M65 000,” Motsamai said.

Swallows president Mosa Seoli welcomed the sponsorship deals and said he was hopeful they were signals for the beginning of a brighter future for the team. He promised that the team would work hard to retain the sponsors for a long time.

“I hope the sponsorship deals will not end because we want to retain the sponsors while also giving them value for their sponsorship,” Seoli said.

The event saw Swallows unveiling a new Kappa away jersey and soccer boots sponsored by Maluti Wool and Mohair.