By RODGERS ESHITEMI and REBECCA GICHANA

PUMA Middle East Managing Director Dr Oliver Wirth (centre) poses with models during the launch of official ball of KPL 2014 Season, yesterday. [Photo/DENNIS OKEYO/standard]

Puma, one of the world’s leading sports brands and Kenyan Premier League have launched ‘The PUMA KPL KING Match’ as the official ball for the rest of the 2014 season.

In 2012, the sports kit manufacturers signed a Sh10 million three and half-year deal with the league organisers.

The deal made them designated sponsor and official ball supplier to the country’s top tier league.

As part of the deal, all 16 participating clubs in the KPL have been getting the Puma balls for the last two seasons.

Speaking during the official launch of the PUMA KPL KING Match in Nairobi, KPL CEO Jack Oguda thanked the Dubai-based company for their continued support.

“We have been in partnership with Puma for the last two years and we are happy to unveil an official match ball for the rest of the 2014 season. Just like the previous seasons, they have provided 500 soccer balls worth Sh3.5 million and each club will get 20 balls. Our partnership with Puma has really improved the broadcast quality of the matches,” said Oguda.

Reduced cost

His sentiments were echoed by KPL and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, who said: “Since Puma came on board in 2012, it has reduced the cost of purchasing balls for various clubs and we are hoping for a long-term partnership.”

“This launch brings with it not only an official focus for the upcoming Kenyan Premier League games, but also the continued support of our sponsors Puma, SuperSport, Tusker and Mumias. As experienced over the last two years the Puma match ball has helped in increasing the pace of the game and competitiveness in the league,” Rachier added.

Puma’s Head of Marketing for the Middle East and East Africa, Abdelhamid Oraibi, was impressed with the partnership between the two parties.

“Having been given responsibility for the East African market in general and Kenya in particular, is a privilege; and the official ball launch for the Kenyan Premier League is our first activity here,” said Oraibi.

“Given our extensive history with both Africa and African football, it is with great pride that Puma is the official ball sponsor of the Kenyan Premier League in a country that has so much meaning for the brand,” he added.