May 5 – African financial services platform Mukuru has secured the sleeve sponsorship of Crystal Palace in the Premier League and a naming rights deal for the top Malawi Super League Team, The Mighty Wanderers FC.
Mukuru said that its move into sports sponsorship was about “boosting brand awareness while demonstrating the company’s commitment to excellence, as well as its recognition of Africa’s rising global stature in both fintech and sport.”
Mukuru has built its business around money transfers for expatriate Africans and has more than 10 million customers and completed over 100 million transactions. It said it is now expanding its business to “address the broader financial needs of its customers around the world”.
The Crystal Palace sleeve sponsorship is a one-season deal for the 2022-23 campaign. Palace’s squad boasts several key players who represent African countries, including Wilf Zaha, Jordan Ayew, Jeff Schlupp, and African Cup of Nations winner Cheikhou Kouyate.
Mukuru CEO Andy Jury said: “The Premier League is home to a wide range of very talented African players who have left their home country to pursue their dreams elsewhere. This inspires the Mukuru customer to continue to pursue their dreams and fills them with the belief that their journey from their home country in pursuit of a better life can result in something beautiful.”
The agreement with Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers will see the team renamed the Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
“Malawian expatriates all around the world use the service to send money home to their loved ones. Malawi is home to millions of passionate soccer fans, and the opportunity to sponsor a Malawian team came at the right time to demonstrate our passion for home-grown success stories,” said Jury.
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