Rugby
Diadora partners with Platinum Leopards─── 06:26 Fri, 07 Nov 2008
Potchefstroom. - In a first for South African rugby, Italian sports brand Diadora will kit up local rugby side Platinum Leopards in next season’s Currie Cup, both organizations announced.
Under the historic and groundbreaking agreement, Diadora South Africa will kit out the entire Leopards Currie Cup side and provide technical kit assistance to the team. The two organizations signed a three year contract to this effect.
While many sports fans locally will associate Diadora with football, the fact remains that the Italian company also supports rugby and various other sports. Diadora CEO Dr Iqbal Abdulla said his company is delighted with partnering of a Premier side like Leopards.
“The two companies share a similar DNA where we have both been around for many years providing a quality product to our customers.
“This partnerships shows the commitment Diadora has in improving our sports and at the same time showcasing our impressive range of rugby gear,” Dr. Abdulla said.
“We have been in football in South Africa for several years now, but we also provide products for Tennis, Running and Cycling. Rugby is another avenue we wanted to explore and we are pleased that the Leopards have joined us to make this a reality,” he said.
Dr. Eugene Hare, CEO of Leopards Rugby, was excited about getting Diadora on board. “We are privileged to be the first rugby union to go into a partnership with Diadora. And having qualified for the Premier Division, makes it all the more special. I think both parties will gain enormous exposure in the process. It is the biggest clothing sponsorship that the Leopards have ever had and we are looking forward to a longstanding relationship with them,” Dr Hare conferred.
He also indicated that ALL the Leopards teams will be wearing Diadora in 2009.
This announcement follows the recent ground–breaking agreement between Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings (Pty) Limited (RBSH) and Leopard Rugby (Pty) Limited announced in terms of which the latter became South Africa’s first black–owned professional rugby franchise.
The Leopards were renamed the Platinum Leopards, to reflect the professional team’s heritage in the North West, and will also play their matches at the 2010 Fifa World Cup venue, 40 000–seater Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng.
Diadora also kits Premier Soccer League Champions SuperSport United as well as North West football club Platinum Stars, who are based in Rustenburg.
Background information
About Diadora
Since 1948, Diadora has been at the top of the game in the ultra-competitive pro soccer shoe arena. And they lead by example, having equipped legendary names such as Roberto Baggio, and now Francesco Totti. Like Diadora, the athletes that wear their shoes are the champions of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Diadora does not boast a fabricated history, but a story of authenticity...
About Leopards
For most of their history they've played in the second tier of the Currie Cup, but they were promoted to the Premier Division for the 2009 season after defeating the Valke in a promotion-relegation playoff in October 2008. They became the first black-owned rugby franchise in South Africa, after securing a sponsorship from Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings in October 2007.
