Uganda’s National basketball teams the Silverbacks (Senior Men) and the Gazelles (Senior Women) have received a boost from local betting brand betPawa, which is set to sponsor them for the next
three years.
In an announcement made today, betPawa said it will give the Federation of Uganda
Basketball Associations (FUBA) UGX 2.6 Billion towards the management of these
two teams between now and 2026.
The costs to be covered under this partnership include team training, travel &
accommodation to attend tournaments, medical insurance and supplements,
among others.
“The costs to be covered under this partnership include team training, travel &
accommodation to attend tournaments, medical insurance and supplements
among others,”
Said betPawa’s Chief Branding Officer Spencer Okach.
In addition, betPawa will also directly pay the players UGX 150,000 per match for
every win their team gets under their flagship Locker Room Bonus initiative.
Locker Room Bonus is a direct reward to players by the sponsor for winning matches, as a way of boosting their morale and recognising great performance.
Confirming the signing of the sponsorship, FUBA CEO Marcus Kwikiriza said:
“This is the first time our players are getting an incentive such as the Locker Room Bonus
and also the first time in East and Central Africa that a private company is sponsoring
a national basketball team.”
The Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang lauded betPawa for the sponsorship
noting that in most countries sports are supported mostly by the private sector,
adding that he hopes to see the same in Uganda.
“Clap for this special occasion. The problems facing sports can only be solved by the
partners we have here. Elsewhere private sponsors play a big role to support
BetPawa’s Chief Commercial Officer Ntoudi Mouyelo said the sponsorship is timely
given the global spotlight on the game brought on by the Basketball Africa League.
He said the partnership will increase players’ exposure to top clubs at home and
abroad as betPawa will support them in attending tournaments where they can
showcase their skills.
“With Uganda Silverbacks recently being ranked by FIBA as one of the most
improved countries by ranking, moving up four spaces to position 83, out of 160; we
see huge potential here. These kinds of partnerships can help them aspire to reach
even greater achievements both regionally and globally,” he added.
