Telecommunications giant  increases package to Frw 50m for Amahoro Cup   

MTN Rwanda has improved on its annual sponsorship package towards the organisation of Rwanda’s prime club cup competition, Peace Cup (Amahoro Cup) by Frw 30m from last year’s Frw 20m.

This year, the giant telecommunications group has increased the package to Frw 50m, an increase of almost 150%, miles ahead of last year’s Frw 20m.

The hefty package sees clubs competing for total prize money of Frw. 23 millions with the winner being awarded Frw 10m as cash prize a major increase from what APR won last year when they defeated Atraco in the finals.

APR was awarded Frw 5m for their win in the finals of the 2008 edition.  

The second, third and fourth clubs will pocket Frw. 7m, Frw.4m and Frw. 2.5m respectively.

The other portion of the package (Frw. 27 million) will cover expenses like administrative costs, communication, transport of participating clubs, referees and purchasing medals and a trophy.

The sponsorship deal which is one of the largest single sponsorships in any sport in Rwanda will raise the profile of the Peace Cup and invariably raise the quality of football in the country.

Signing on behalf of MTN Rwanda, the Chief Operating Officer Andrew Rugege reaffirmed the company’s commitment to play a leading role in the development of sports in Rwanda and especially in football.

"As official sponsors of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, we have committed ourselves to the development of football across all markets in which MTN operates,”

"This agreement with Ferwafa is a renewal of a strong and historic relationship we have with football in Rwanda,” Rugege said.

Rugege further added that the sponsorship of the Peace Cup coincides with the launch of the MTN 2010 Fifa World Cup ‘We can’t Wait’ campaign that is geared towards creating excitement and awareness of what many expect to be Africa’s greatest sporting moment in History.

MTN Group has injected over $100m into the 19th edition of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa due in South Africa.

MTN’s sponsorship of the global event bolsters its position as the first and only African company ever to be a global sponsor of the Fifa World Cup.

The campaign has been lighted on television and radio and featured in magazines, newspapers and billboards - is one of the most ambitious ever by an African company.

MTN Group has also offered to donate up to R3m for goals scored during the Africa qualifiers which started over the weekend.

MTN is the title sponsor of the Confederation of African Football’s African Champions League and the Africa Cup of Nations since 2006.

Ferwafa president Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura was grateful with the sponsorship from MTN Rwanda.

"We are extremely happy to have reached an agreement and hope to maintain the good and unending relationship that exists between MTN Rwanda and Ferwafa,” Kazura said.

The MTN peace Cup is the only football tournament that pits all football clubs in the country against each other regardless of league category or status and will be played at different venues across the country culminating into a final to be played on July 4(Liberation Day) at Amahoro Stadium.

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