GABORONE CLUB IN TALKS WITH DEODORANT GIANTS SHIELD

‘No sweat’ may well be the catch phrase that embodies Township Rollers if the club’s proposed deal with deodorant giants Shield goes through.

Voice Sport has learnt that Rollers FC put forward a proposal to Shield through their distribution office in Gaborone and had a positive response.

On Tuesday afternoon Rollers players wore branded training kits advertising the product, another sign that some form of a working understanding had been reached.

When contacted for a comment Rollers Managing Director Somerset Gobuiwang was cagey with details.

The MD could only say that the club was still in negotiations with numerous potential sponsors.

“You journalists are chasing away potential sponsors by publishing untruths about our club.

We have a working relationship with a lot of companies and individuals and you should not read too much into the Shield branded training kit. We will call a press conference soon where everything concerning the team’s sponsors will be revealed,” said Gobuiwang.

His comments followed further press speculation that the club had forged a partnership with former English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers to assist in coaching and training.

However Voice Sport has been reliably informed that the most successful club in the country both on and off the pitch was beginning to reap the rewards of their partnership with businessman Jackdish Shah of CA Sales; a distributor of a wide range of products.

Shah who owns a couple of gyms in the city is said to have offered Rollers free gym time, although it is not yet clear for how long. Jack’s Gym is also boldly printed on the shorts of the Shield training kit.

A source revealed to Voice Sport that Shield is very keen in partnering with the Gaborone giants.

“They brought this kit to find out whether their brand would look good on us.

Negotiations are still at a preliminary stage but the training kit gesture could be an indication that they are interested in coming onboard,” the source said.

The Shield brand is not new to sports – its name is associated with some of the biggest sporting names and codes in Africa.

Some of their celebrity brand ambassadors to date include renowned South African singer Lira, all star Bafana Bafana player Siphiwe Tshabalala’ and more recently, the Springbok rugby team.

Shield is the deodorant market leader of global company Unilever that produces products for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that the company’s advertising campaigns say, “help people feel good, look good and get more pout of life.”

Rollers will certainly be hoping that the promise rings true.