Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Shirt-tastic idea

I've noticed that Cambodia do not have a football shirt sponsorship deal, a very lucrative avenue of much-needed revenue for club teams and national sides the world over. I'm a little surprised that some of the cash-rich businesses or big movers and shakers haven't muscled in and got their logo emblazoned onto the Cambodia jersey for a bargain price - where are Sokha, CamboSix or Number One when you need them - especially as it is seen on the international stage, whether it be through television coverage of the asean competitions the country takes part in or in World Cup qualification, or on my blog! Whilst club teams in Cambodia like Phnom Penh Crown have a company logo on their shirts, the national team has nothing. I'm sure it's not for the want of trying by the football federation here. However, a recent shirt sponsorship deal announced by Vietnam for example, shows the value it can be worth. Nike are providing $5 million over 5 years whilst others like Boss Paint and Yamaha have paid around $120,000 each to have their name on the shirt for 1 year. I know Vietnam have just won the Suzuki Cup so they have some kudos but still, not sums to turn your nose up to by any national federation. In the upper strata of shirt deals, England for example have a $350 million deal with Umbro over ten years but I don't fancy Cambodia's chances of securing such a money-spinner. Nevertheless, it would be good for the federation if a shirt sponsor could be found and the money injected back into the international football team - but that's about as likely as me flying to the moon, on the back of a winged moto. It ain't going to happen. So in the meantime, I suggest the Cambodia - Kingdom of Wonder logo is emblazoned on the front of the national team's jerseys so that football and the country's tourism industry avail themselves of a marriage of convenience. I reckon that would be a neat combination. What say you?

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