Manchester United has extended their reach in the African market after agreeing a deal with consumer finance company afb.

The five-year agreement will see afb produce and market the official Manchester United credit card in Kenya.

The afb Manchester United credit card will provide United’s 5.5million Kenyan followers with the opportunity to take advantage of the competitive rates offered by afb, symptoms as well as benefit from various United-related incentives.

Manchester United group managing director Richard Arnold said: “We are pleased to be partnering with afb as this will give our fans in Kenya another way to engage with their favourite team.

“afb is a new and exciting company that has been progressively growing since establishing in 2009. The club has been impressed by its determination for growth in its industry, medic quickly expanding into numerous markets.

“They are an ambitious company that is committed to promoting responsible banking and we are looking forward to a successful partnership.”

afb group chief executive officer Karl Westvig said: “We want to give Manchester United supporters the opportunity of getting closer to their club, apoplectic and we hope that the millions of fans come and enjoy this unique offering.

“We are expecting a significant amount of fans to apply for the limited edition MUFC credit card in the coming months.”

Established in 2009, afb employs over 1500 people in countries across Africa and services more than 45,000 customers.

Manchester United already have deals with Globacom, MTN and Airtel Africa in the African market and recently signed major deals with Pepsico and Aeroflot as Official Carrier of the Premier League champions.

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To celebrate Orlando Magic’s 25th anniversary “Silver Season”, pills the team announced today that Marriott Vacation Club will serve as the presenting partner of the 2013-2014 season.

The partnership will include a co-branded 25th anniversary Magic logo, viagra presence in Amway Center for games as well as many other components surrounding the team’s “Silver Season.”

“We are honored to have Marriott Vacation Club join us as the presenting partner of our much anticipated Silver Season,” said Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins. “For 25 years the Magic has represented excellence and we are proud to partner with an outstanding brand like Marriott Vacation Club to celebrate this momentous season.” 

As the recognized leader in vacation ownership and to promote its rental and ownership programs, Marriott Vacation Club will receive branding in key aspects of the Magic’s marketing and communications surrounding the season, including on the Orlando Magic’s website, in print and on broadcast productions, and with signage at Amway Center.

“We’re thrilled to be the Magic’s Silver Season presenting partner and proud to continue our long-standing relationship with this great team,” said Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen P. Weisz. “For nearly 30 years we’ve been providing exceptional vacation experiences to our owners and guests at our resorts around the world and especially right here in our hometown of Orlando. We look forward to a fantastic season and partnership.”

Sports brand Peak, who is also a strategic partner of FIBA, has announced it will sponsor the official shoes for the Five Continents Basketball Championship and supply the official clothing for the Asia championship.

The five continents in questions are the Asia, Eurasia, America, Africa and Oceania.

Peak sponsored the two West Asian teams Iran and Qatar at the 27th Men’s Basketball championship in Manila, Philippines.

In addition, for the following FIBA EuroBasket, Americas Championship, African Championship and Oceania Championship, PEAK is the sponsor of nearly 10 national teams, such as Germany, Montenegro and Australia.

Also the brand-new judge shoes, designed especially for FIBA’s international referees by Peak, will make their first appearance at the inter-continental championship. Also, several FIBA officially-authorized sports products will also appear at the Five Continents Basketball Championship.

“PEAK will devote itself to providing the best basketball products and user experience for FIBA events,” said Jim Xu, CEO of PEAK. He believes that further cooperation with FIBA will promote the influence of PEAK globally, especially in the field of basketball.

Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota has signed a new extended five-year deal with NFL franchise, Indianapolis Colts. 

To commemorate this ongoing partnership and the automaker’s continued status as the “Official Vehicle of the Indianapolis Colts,” Toyota is presently constructing a new concourse at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Toyota has a large manufacturing presence in Indiana, with a plant in Princeton (Gibson County) that produces the Highlander, Sienna and Sequoia. The Toyota Camry is assembled in Lafayette by SIA. Toyota directly employs more than 4,500 people in the Hoosier state, with an additional 12,900 local jobs affected indirectly.

The Toyota Concourse is located at the northwest corner of the stadium. It will make its public debut at the August 11 pre-season contest between the Colts and the Buffalo Bills.

The concourse’s interactive elements include: a video walls showing Indiana factory highlights and running vehicle footage; a 2013 Toyota Highlander static display with digital wheel stand; a pair of 6-D monitors featuring Toyota products and Colts’ players; and an interactive player wall which also showcases the region’s 11 Central Indiana Toyota dealers.

“We are very excited to be continuing our relationship with the Colts,” said Kevin Fletcher, General Manager of the Chicago Region for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “The Toyota Concourse celebrates the company’s numerous vehicles, as well as our hard-working manufacturing Associates and dealer partners in the state of Indiana.”

“We are proud to continue our relationship with Toyota,” said Jay Souers, Senior Vice President of Sponsorship Sales for the Colts. “With Toyota vehicles being built in Indiana, it makes sense this brand be associated with Indiana’s own Indianapolis Colts.”

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The Tampa Tribune will continue its multi-year sponsorship of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will extend its participation in the team’s elite Pewter Partner group. 

As part of the agreement, The Tampa Tribune will continue to be Tampa Bay’s official newspaper of the Buccaneers.

“The Buccaneers have shared a close relationship with The Tampa Tribune from the club’s earliest days, when Tribune legend Tom McEwen first led the charge to bring an NFL franchise to the region,” Buccaneers Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer said. “The Tribune is a valuable and committed sponsor and our team couldn’t be more pleased to continue this partnership.” 

“We are very excited to extend our long-standing Pewter Partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” said William R. Barker, president and publisher of The Tampa and St. Petersburg Tribune and TBO.com. “Buccaneers football speaks a universal language to so many in the greater Tampa area. As Tampa’s number one news source, everyone here at the Tribune and TBO is delighted to continue our partnership and support of the Bucs organization, its players and fans. Go Bucs.” 

Natwest has upped their presence in English cricket by announcing they will be the title sponsor of Twenty20 (T20) cricket at international, medstore county and recreational level from 2014.

It is considered a major deal as it will be the first time a single format sponsorship of the game has been offered to one organisation by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The four year deal includes England’s eight international T20 fixtures against Sri Lanka (two matches – 2014 and 2016), order India, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa. NatWest will continue its support of the women’s game through its title sponsorship of England Women’s home international T20 fixtures.

NatWest will also become the title sponsor of the county T20 competition with the majority of matches being played on Friday nights from 2014. 

In recreational cricket, NatWest retains the title sponsorship of the extremely successful annual NatWest CricketForce weekend (4^th-6^th April 2014 being the thirteenth event) – where thousands of cricket clubs hold volunteer events to boost investment in grounds and facilities prior to each season. NatWest will also become the lead sponsor of the ECB’s National Club T20 competition which runs across 32 recreational league competition culminating with the Finals Day shown live on Sky Sports.

NatWest will also title sponsor the NatWest Women’s T20 competition – which 33 County Boards compete in, across three regional groups (Midlands & North, South & West, and South). 

NatWest has enjoyed a number of title sponsorship properties in its 32-year involvement with cricket – beginning with the domestic NatWest Trophy (1981-2000), before switching to international cricket with the NatWest ODI Series (2000-2013) which included the NatWest Challenge (2003-2005), and the NatWest T20 Series (2006-2013).

David Collier, ECB Chief Executive, said: “NatWest has been a wonderful and loyal supporter of cricket over the past three decades. They have been involved from the club game all the way up to England teams. ECB is delighted that this long-standing partnership will continue to flourish through NatWest’s support of the T20 format which, as we have witnessed this season, continues to attract a new and growing audience for cricket throughout England and Wales.”

Les Matheson, Managing Director of Retail Products & Marketing, NatWest said: “With well over thirty years supporting English cricket, we are the longest-standing sponsor of cricket anywhere in the world and are delighted to be extending this involvement through the most exciting and engaging format of the game.

“The Twenty20 game, at all levels, gives us the opportunity to engage our branch network and reach out to our customers all over the country. This new deal will also give us the opportunity to continue rewarding our customers.”

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Mercedes-Benz has announced they have extended their sponsorship deal with the PGA of America until 2017.

The German car brand, impotent which has been a sponsor of the PGA Tour since 2010, inked the new deal to elevate its status as the “Official Patron” and “Official Vehicle” of the PGA of America, PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship.

Mercedes-Benz will also obtain the US rights as “Official Patron” of the 2014 Ryder Cup and global rights excluding Europe for the 2016 Ryder Cup. 

“We are delighted that Mercedes-Benz has once again recognized the great value of aligning with the PGA Professional and the game of golf by extending its relationship with The PGA of America and our high-profile spectator Championships,” said Pete Bevacqua, chief executive officer of The PGA of America.

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