Cargills happy to sponsor Football
Few decades back sports sponsorship was regarded as a charitable or philanthropic move. But in recent years it has changed significantly towards deriving benefits. So when Cargills agreed to pump out 25 million rupees annually for five years to develop football, one would expect them to gain a significant boost in profit and a positive advertising effect. But this has not been the case.
Football is at its lowest ebb at the moment. Sri Lanka has been beaten comprehensively by the lowest ranked team in the world, Bhutan six months ago and Sri Lanka’s 0-10 drubbing at the hands of Maldives at the 2013 SAFF Championships wasn’t encouraging either. But Cargills, a truly Sri Lankan company with over 170 years history wants to be with the game and invest in the future of the sport. They are happy with the progress that has been made since they first came into the scene in 2014.
“If we are not happy we wouldn’t be here today,”
We believe in the future of Sri Lanka and especially the youth, if we don’t invest behind this, there’s no future
said Ranjit Page, Deputy Chairman Cargills PLC at a press conference to announce the national team’s sponsorship. “We believe in the future of Sri Lanka and especially the youth, if we don’t invest behind this, there’s no future. It’s not about return on investment but more about believing in the future of leadership and have faith in the youth of this country. So everything is not about return on investment,” he added when asked what would be their return on investment. In addition being football’s partner in progress for the next five years, the company will be the main sponsor of the team. “Our commitment towards Sri Lanka Football is a long term one and we would be looking to extend our support beyond a sponsorship to that of a partnership whereby the game and its players would yield value and garner strength from our association. Cargills is privileged to be associated with the game and we look to the Federation to nurture football into one of the most popular and sort after sports in Sri Lanka,” Page added
The Federation expressed its sincere gratitude to Cargills for coming forward as a crusader of Sri Lanka Football in the long term. “Their commitment remained despite several below-par performances recorded at the time of the signing of the initial contract. Cargills as the National Partner is continuing its partnership with the Football Federation not only to develop football in the country but is also working towards enhancing the value of football through its professionalism in Image and network,” Anura De Silva, President FFSL commented.
Commenting on the national team which is preparing for the South Asian Federation Football Championships in December, De Silva said that every effort is being made to send the best possible team to win a medal.