Rand 5.5 Million Injection For South African Cricket (16 Nov 1996)

16 November 1996

Rand 5.5m Injection for South African Cricket.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa announced on 13 November 1996 that 10 leading companies based in this country had been appointed as "Official Suppliers" to the UCB for the 1996/97 season. They are: Liberty Life, Pick `n Pay, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, Total, Vodacom, Nashua, Goldstar, Kodak and Budget Rent-a-Car.

Dr Ali Bacher, Managing Director of the United Cricekt Board explained that the funds forthcoming from this marketing initiative would be used to promote South African Cricket as a "brand".

Dr Bacher affirmed that each Supplier had paid R550 000 for certain exclusive rights from the United Criekt Board. These rights included:-

* Preferential benefits at the international matches played in South Africa

* Exclusive rights to use South African Cricekt to market their products

* A substantial and valuable media package during the forthcoming international matches played in South Africa

* During the current season Suppliers will, for the first time, have the right to display the Official UCB logo proclaiming their status as Official Suppliers, on their company letterheads and stationery.

"The United Cricket Board is proud to have the support of 10 of South Africa`s leading companies", Bacher said. "We will use the funds to develop cricket as a brand and to make the game a truly national sport by taking cricket to all the communities of our country."

The UCB will produce and flight its own TV commercials on SATV and SuperSport between December of this year and April 1997. "The intention of the campaign will be to promote the aims and objectives of the UCB," Dr Bacher said. "In addition, the United Cricket Board will use R1-million from the Suppliers fund to further develop the game throughout South Africa."