INJURY TIMES

CRICKETING SEXPO

THE Central Gauteng (DP World) Lions 2022/23 season launch took an unexpected turn this week. Far from the usual stuff about new players, new kits and the goals for the season, the Lions and in particular one of the new sponsors of the province’s women’s team sought to highlight how broad their product chain really was.

The founder of Great Africa Hair Company, Salil Dhingra, had a lot to say about the product line of Afripure before pointing out that one gap he’d spotted in the market meant he’d be attempting to sell some of his products at SEXPO, taking place in Tshwane this weekend.

The Lions’ CEO, Jono Leafwright, wasn’t sure if he’d accept the invitation from his union’s new sponsor to attend the exhibition.

Lesego Pooe, who MC’D the launch, was understandably taken aback. “That is not where I thought that conversation would lead.”

LIONS GO DP

BESIDES SEXPO, the Lions launch might have led to enviable glances from the union’s mother body down the road from the Wanderers, about its new global sponsor. The grand old Joburg venue will now be officially known as DP World Wanderers, and the teams as the DP World Lions.

As the sleeves of the players’ shirts indicated, the union has attracted some big name sponsors including the fast-food brand Mcdonald’s. DP World, a logistics company based in Dubai, also sponsors the European Golf Tour.

Meanwhile, Cricket SA continues to struggle to attract sponsorships for various competitions and, most notably, the men’s national team.

UNTIDY LIONS

ONE of those new sponsors does have awkward product placement. Telkom, which will have its name attached to the Lions’ development pipeline, will feature on the playing shirt. However, judging by the clothing modelled at the launch, the Lions players won’t be scoring any points for tidiness.

You see (or maybe you won’t) the Telkom logo is situated right at the bottom of the shirt, which would (and really should) be tucked into the trousers. However, to give the name exposure, the players will have to wear the shirt untucked. Perhaps a redesign is in the offing.

THE ICC JUMPS IN WITH SAUDI POLLUTERS

STILL on the subject of cricket sponsors, the International Cricket Council, the events company that has stopped actually running cricket, this week announced a new ‘global partnership’ with the Saudi-owned Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies.

According to the Climate Accountability Institute, Aramco “is the single greatest contributor to global carbon emissions of any company in the world since 1965”.

What a fine bunch for the ICC to jump into bed with at a time when the Earth is heating up and a new analy-sis in the Living Planet Report has revealed that Earth’s wildlife populations have plunged by an average of 69% in just under 50 years.

MOURINHO’S LOOKING AT YOU

JOSE Mourinho was being typically sardonic on Thursday after his Roma team drew its Europa League tie with Spanish side Real Betis. Afterwards, Mourinho was asked whether Betis were among the favourites to win this year’s competition.

“I see them (Betis) as candidates, but the failed sharks of the Champions League will arrive, and they will come in hard,” Mourinho said. “They shouldn’t come but it’s the reality. It’s going to be fun. The failures of the Champions League.”

Yes, Barcelona and your levers and Juventus and whatever it is you’re doing, José’s looking at you.