HYUNDAI has teamed up with the Southern-based professional soccer club Moroka Swallows as its new headline sponsor. The sponsorship deal with one of the oldest soccer clubs in the country was concluded earlier in September by Hyundai Automotive South Africa, official local distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles.
The Dube Birds have already played their first Professional Soccer League match in their new shirts with the Hyundai logo – against Chippa United at the Dobsonville Stadium, the team’s home playing ground in Soweto.
“We were as proud as the team when they appeared in front of their home crowd with their new sponsor’s logo on their shirts,” said Albrecht Grundel, operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, at the official announcement of the sponsorship at the company’s head office in Bedfordview.
“The deal to sponsor one of the three major Soweto soccer clubs and one of the top PSL teams was concluded last week after a lot of work was done to make this partnership possible.”
Grundel said the decision to sponsor Moroka Swallows was a logical one against the background of Hyundai’s involvement with soccer worldwide and the global company’s sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup Tournament. “We have signed a contract with Moroka Swallows after extensive research, and we would love to see this relationship with one of the top teams in the Professional Soccer League blossom, and bring even more success to the Birds, to Hyundai Automotive SA and to our brand.”
“Compared to Swallows – which was started as a club in 1947 – Hyundai has a relatively young history in South Africa, yet this Korean brand has reached incredible success in the country during the 14 years of Hyundai Automotive SA’s existence. We trust that our successful venture will inspire Swallows and their supporters to fly even higher,” said Grundel.
“Hyundai realises that soccer, being the people’s game with the biggest supporter base worldwide and in South Africa, is a perfect way to bring the brand and its products to the public,” said Grundel.
Globally Hyundai has been affiliated with soccer since 2002, when they sponsored the FIFA World Cup Tournament in South Korea and Japan. “The brand made a major impact in South Africa when the country hosted the FIFA World Cup Tournament in 2010, and we realised what a great role sport plays in uniting a nation. It was a turning point for the Hyundai brand in South Africa, and presented a chance to use soccer to make Hyundai a household name.
“The sponsorship deal is also a sign of the commitment of Hyundai to South Africa and its people. We are proud to be a big player in this partnership and look forward to a long and successful relationship with Moroka Swallows,” said Grundel.
