David GOMBE
SC Villa and Chinese tyre manufacturers Linglong Tire are set to become partners after their partnership agreement.
Swift Sports Uganda understands that Linglong Tire, a leading figure in tyre production will be the new official SC Villa sponsor starting with the forthcoming season.
According to sources, the deal between the record Uganda Premier league champions and Linglong is for five years.
SC Villa will bag Shs600M per year from the tyre marker Linglong with the deal expected to be unveiled this month.
The partnership will also see Linglong invest in the construction of a stadium for the 16 time Uganda Premier league champions. They will also be given the naming rights of the stadium after completion.
SC Villa received Shs3bn from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) as compensation for taking over their Villa Park facility in Nsambya. The money was put on a fixed account as by the club President Hajji Omar Mandela.
This partnership with Linglong Tyre company is also expected to increase SC Villa’s presence in terms of international development in China.
The sponsorship will be a huge boost for SC Villa who have struggled to get sponsors since the termination of their partnership with StarTimes Uganda in 2018.
The Chinese tyre markers have previously partnered with Italian Giants Juventus and German football club VfL Wolfsburg.
At the company’s helm is chairman and president, Wang Feng, an entrepreneurial veteran whose leadership has paved the way for Linglong to emerge as one of the world’s top tyre manufacturers.
In 2021, Wang was was awarded by China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation and China Chemical Industry News (CCIN) as one of the ten top most influential leaders in the petrochemical industry in China.
The company also won the Leading Brand in China Petroleum and Chemical Industry and 2020 China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Social Responsibility Leader awards in the same year.
SC Villa have already appointed Serbian tactician Dusan Stojanovic as their head coach with Morley Byekwaso as his assistant. They have signed versatile player Denis Ojara, Charles Batibwe and have also agreed terms with Express FC right back Joseph Dhata.
