Adidas snaps up Disi

Rwanda’s long distance athlete Dieudonne Disi has joined the elite class of Adidas sponsored athletes. 

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Rwanda’s long distance athlete Dieudonne Disi has joined the elite class of Adidas sponsored athletes. 

The 5000m, 10000m and half marathon national record holder is expected to put pen-to-paper Thursday to a one year contract that is expected to fetch him whopping $60000 a year.

Disi confirmed the development to Times Sport over the weekend. "Am really delighted to be among the Adidas family.”

"I will sign a one year contract with Adidas before participating in the Abudapi half marathon race on Thursday.

"My manager (Ricky Simms) who has been in talks with Adidas for over two months told me the good news and this deal will help me to reach greater heights this year,” Disi said.

Disi further added that he has not been briefed about the conditions of the contract but said that the conditions will be known on the D-day when he will be signing the contract with the World’s sports apparel manufacturer.

Disi failed to renew his two-year contract with Puma which expired in December last year and has since jumped ship, ready to sign with bitter rivals Adidas.

Failing to renew his contract with Puma was attributed to unattractive packages offered by the German based sports manufacturer. However, a new deal with Adidas may offer the 5000m, 10000m and half marathon national record holder an annual package worthy between $50000 and $60000.

The 27-year-old signed his first contract with Puma in 2005 and since then Puma has also been dressing the national athletics team in all major international championships. Concluding European road race season with a victory in the New Delhi half marathon race in October last year, attracted Adidas to pile its sponsorship onto Rwandan born star.

The 27-year-old signed his first contract with Puma in 2005 and since then Puma has also been dressing the national athletics team in all major international championships.
Adidas is the second world’s biggest sports wear manufacturer behind other brand name like Nike.               

 Adidas is a major German-based multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes and other sportswear.

The company is perhaps best known for its football shoes and has sponsored such international football stars as Kaka, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Franz Beckenbaur, Michel Platini long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie, NBA superstars, Tim Duncan and Chauncey Billups to mention but a few.

Adidas was last year announced as the official sports wear of the London 2012 Olympic Games in a deal worth an estimated $ 200 millions.
Ends