Sports

Rwanda signs landmark deal with European football giant, Bayern Munich

Published

3 months ago

August 28, 2023

Rwanda has taken its drive of positioning the country as the go-to destination for tourism and sports as it signs a landmark deal with European football giant, Bayern Munich of Germany.

The five-year partnership deal with the former European champions which was sealed on Sunday will see the six-time European champions promoting the East African country’s tourism as well as setting up a football academy in the country.

The new partnership will see the German Bundesliga team wear the “Visit Rwanda” logo on their jersey and is coming after similar partnerships with English Premier League club Arsenal and French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG).

As part of the partnership, the “Visit Rwanda” logo will appear on the illuminated panels around the pitch at Bayern’s 75,000 capacity Allianz Arena stadium, according to a press release by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

“We are delighted to be partnering with FC Bayern to support the development of football for boys and girls in Rwanda. We are looking forward to creating the FC Bayern Academy where their expert coaches will be able to share their knowledge of the game with local coaches and players,” Rwanda’s Minister of Sport, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, said in the statement.

Bayern Munich CEO, Jan-Christian Dreesen, who was in Rwanda for the signing ceremony, said:

“Africa is a continent of opportunities. For FC Bayern, it is the next important step in our internationalisation.”

On the financial gains that have come in from the partnerships with Arsenal and PSG, Rwanda says it has generated more than $160m (€148m) and attracted a million visitors, generating an additional $445m (€412m).

The new partnership is coming six months after Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, revealed that the country was considering entering a new partnership with another European club because the initial two shirt sponsorship deals with Arsenal and PSG had paid off, but did not specify which club, league or country.

“The ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ is extending its visibility to a new European football league after England, where it is a sponsor of London club Arsenal, and France, where it is a partner of Paris Saint-Germain,” Kagame had said.

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Sports

South Africa to host Ireland in Rugby Two-Test summer tour

Published

16 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Current Rubgy World Cup champions, South Africa, will host Ireland, in a two-Test series in July, 2024, which will be Ireland’s first trip to the nation in eight years.

Ireland was the only country to defeat South Africa as they went on to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France in October.

South African Rugby Federation which made the announcement on Friday, said the two countries will first meet on Saturday, July 6, in Pretoria, with the second Test in Durban on 13 July.

When the two sides first met on South African soil in 2016, the Springboks came out victorious, edging the Three-Test series 2-1.

In the first test in the 2016 series, Ireland won 26-20 in Cape Town, before losing the next two games, 32-26 in Johannesburg and 19-13 in Port Elizabeth.

Apart from the Ireland games, SA Rugby also confirmed that the team will face Portugal on 20 July at a venue yet to be announced.

South Africa will also host New Zealand, who they beat in the World Cup final, in Johannesburg on 31 August and Cape Town on 7 September as part of the Rugby Championship before concluding their home schedule against Argentina on 28 September, the Federation said.

Sports

Zimbabwe seals last gasp winner over Ireland in T20 Series opener

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Host, Zimbabwe, started its 2023 T20 Series on a winning note after rallying back to defeat Ireland from 88-7 to 106-7 in their pursuit of an 118 to end the tie for victory, with the home side requiring 12 runs from as many deliveries at that point.

In the thrilling game played in Harare on Thursday, Ireland’s fightback was not enough as they fell just short as Zimbabwe sealed a last-ball win in the series opener.

Ireland had earlier taken control of the game and posted 147-8 while the hosts needed nine runs from their final over, winning it with two from Blessing Muzarabani off the last delivery.

Captain Sikandar Raza who was voted man of the match, took three wickets and scored 65 to lead their run chase.

Raza was supported with the bat by Wesley Madhevere, who scored 25, with wicketkeeper Clive Madande hitting 20.

Two further T20 contests between the sides will take place at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday before three one-day games at the same venue on 13, 15 and 17 December.