By Mark Baber
November 6 – The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has officially launched the 2016 edition of the COSAFA Cup with the announcement that Castle Lager will return as title sponsor of the tournament for the next five years.
The championship, to be known as the COSAFA Castle Cup 2016, will be staged in Namibia from May 15 – 29 with matches played at the Sam Nujoma and Independence stadiums.
Alastair Hewitt, general manager of Castle Lager Africa at SABMiller commented on the new deal saying: “We at Castle Lager are once again proud to announce our renewed sponsorship of the COSAFA Castle Cup for a further five-year period.
“The duration of our sponsorships and the integral role that we play in developing our future sporting stars on the continent of Africa is unrivalled and shows our true commitment to the people of Africa and their passion for the ‘Beautiful Game’.
“The tournament provides Castle Lager with the opportunity to unite the nations of southern Africa, as the 14 countries of the region come together in Namibia in 2016 to compete in the tournament. We’ve recently built a new brewery in Okahandja and this tournament provides us with an opportunity to profile the work that we do in football and also our commitment to the country of Namibia as a new commercial venture in the country.”
On behalf of the Namibian hosts NFA secretary-general Barry Rukoro said: “The NFA is proud to host the COSAFA family here in our uniquely beautiful country next May,”
“The visiting teams will be welcomed and hosted with the highest degree of hospitality and we feel certain they will have a great time and enjoy their participation in the tournament. As defending champions we are looking forward to embarking on a new and fresh challenge – that of winning our second regional championship and maintaining the growth that we have realised in the last few years.
“We know that the Namibian football family, led by our patron, His Excellency, the President of Namibia Dr Hage Geingob, will support the competition wholeheartedly.”
Castle Lager were title sponsors of the inaugural championship in 1997 and this new deal will secure the immediate future of the tournament which has been won four times each by Zambia and Zimbabwe, three times each by South Africa and Angola and once by current holders Namibia.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734846014labto1734846014ofdlr1734846014owedi1734846014sni@r1734846014ebab.1734846014kram1734846014