Township Rollers and title sponsor, Stanbic Bank Botswana this week renewed their sponsorship to the tune of P4.5 million, over the next three football seasons of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Giving the keynote address at a glitzy event, held in Gaborone, Rollers club President, Jagdish Shah, said the partnership between Rollers and Stanbic had significantly grown since the first launch in September 2016 and the re-launch in January 2020.

“I wish to report to you that between 2016 and today, we have doubled our social media following and we have significantly increased our supporters branches as well. Today, we are a lot more professionally and commercially run, and adequately equipped to take this partnership to another level,” Shah said. Shah applauded Stanbic for continuing with the partnership despite the challenges that businesses have faced in the post-COVID-19 pandemic. He urged the Rollers technical team and players to be inspired for more success on the football pitch, so that the two brands can continue being associated with success. Additionally, Shah called on Rollers supporters to support Stanbic Bank by using their products and services, which he said in the long run would also be beneficial to the club.

He also said that Rollers continued to aspire for the highest form of corporate governance and integrity, “that can withstand the scrutiny even by the court of public opinion.”

Speaking during the same occasion, Rollers Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bennett Mamelodi said there was a need to cement the synergy between the club and Stanbic beyond the sponsorship. “I wish to applaud the exceptional professionalism of the Stanbic Bank Team, whom we sought to persuade to see value in us continuing on this journey. We therefore need to ensure that there is a balance between Township Rollers – our supporters, players; do players have contracts, are they paid reasonably, how often does the leadership interact with the supporters? How do we get our multitudes of supporters to consume the Stanbic products and services?” Mamelodi said.

For his part, Stanbic Bank Botswana Chief Executive Chose Modise said his company will use the opportunity to leverage the sport of football in giving back to the community through its development. “Township Rollers is undoubtedly the best football club in the country and as a bank, we seek to establish mutually beneficial relationships with such entities, as we continue to empower and nurture their sustainable development. Not only are they a winning club, but they are also a brand that shares common values with that of the bank,” Mr Modise said.