A news report says that the Department of Tourism is considering a R1 billion sponsorship deal with English soccer team Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham players celebrate the team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Tottenham Hotspur at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille, southern France , on November 1, 2022. Image: CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP
JOHANNESBURG – After reports that the Department of Tourism was considering a nearly R1 billion sponsorship deal with an English football team, Brand Africa chairman Thebe Ikalafeng told 702 that the department’s alleged proposal would be irresponsible at this time.
He daily hipster reported late Tuesday that the department, through Brand South Africa, was proposing to sponsor London-based soccer club Tottenham Hotspur.
READ: Sisulu not involved in R1bn Tottenham Hotspur ‘deal’ with SA tourism, Department says
Ikalafeng says the move could tarnish the country’s reputation globally rather than attract more tourists to the country.
He adds that with high crime levels and regular power outages, the time may not be right for such an agreement.
“They’re going to come to South Africa, they’re going to be robbed. They’re going to come to South Africa, there’s going to be a cargo drop, they’re going to come to South Africa and there’s going to be crimes committed against them, so what are we promoting?”
There have been mixed reactions to the story, with some members of the public saying it makes sense to sponsor a club that is watched by people around the world due to the popularity of the team and the sport around the world, and others saying it doesn’t. it seems good to spend so much money on a sponsorship when the country needs the money to deal with multiple crises in the country right now, even though it is already budgeted for.
