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Business as usual for Cheetahs

Jóhann Thormählen

Bloemfontein – With only a month left to the start of the Super 15 series, the Cheetahs are still without a main sponsor after Vodacom ended its sponsorship of the Free State team last year.

But Harold Verster, president of the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU), says the union has several sources of income and also has a series of associate sponsors, and it will be business as usual while they await a main sponsor.

Vodacom's main sponsorship expired at the end of 2010 when the cellphone company decided, amongst others, not to renew its sponsorship of the Free State and Western Province teams.

Negotiations with new main sponsors have been going on for months and Verster hopes an agreement will be reached soon.

"Things are looking very good. We will hopefully finalise somethingwithin the next few weeks," he said.

The Cheetahs play their first Super15 game on February 19 – against the Sharks – and supporters are concerned about their team's survival.

Although sponsorship is definitely a serious matter, Verster believes it is not grounds for everything to come to a halt.

With a few rumours doing the rounds about the Cheetahs' future, Verster says income from SA Rugby, stadium advertising, boxes, television rights and associate sponsors all contribute to keep the wheels rolling.

"We have already signed a lot of associate sponsors. Vodacom remains our cellphone sponsor, while LG is also a sponsor.

"Konica Minolta will again be linked to amateur rugby in the Free State and SAB is the beer sponsor for the next five years. PVM sponsors our supplements and we hope to finalise a sponsorship from them."

"Then we also have a very big clothing sponsorship with Puma, which will be announced officially on February 12."

"As usual, Kloppers is also an associate sponsor and we are negotiating with Absa, who are sponsoring our academy. Absa would like to continue with their sponsorship," says Verster.

The stadium will still be called Vodacom Park, with any new primary sponsor able to decide whether they want to take over naming rights.
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