Gold Fields give huge cash boost to Ghanaian soccer

19 May 2010 | Posted in Sponsorship, Football | By Tom Love

South Africa's second largest producer of Gold, Gold Fields Limited has given its full support to Ghana's preparations towards the 2010 Fifa World Cup by granting the soccer team US$560,000 in financial support.

Gold Fields corporate affairs manager, Sven Lunsche said, "For us from the branding point of view, the further Ghana goes, the better Gold Fields goes and I would like them to win of course. Just imagine what will happen when Ghana wins, maybe there will be a spin off for us and they will say Gold Fields sponsored to make it possible."

The significant financial support will fund team preparations, player bonuses and other expenses. In a similar move to the company's actions preceding the 2010 African Cup of Nations it's hoped that the cash injection will help the Black Stars produce a strong showing at the upcoming World Cup

"The Black Stars is the biggest brand in Ghana today and they can count on a huge support base awaiting them in South Africa. A lot of people did not expect this team to do that well in Angola during the Nations Cup but we thought otherwise and they delivered to vindicate our confidence in them. I trust they could go all the way because the group stage will be the most difficult and after that it can be anybody's game," Lunsche added.

El Zamalek midfielder Rahim Ayew, one of the players named in the provisional 30-man squad, said, "The presentation is also a challenge for us to excel and we definitely will do what is expected of us when the time comes."

Gold Fields has been the headline sponsor of the Black Stars since 2005, presenting the team with a minimum of US$1.3 million per year their sponsorship is often reasoned as playing a key role in Ghana's first World Cup appearance in Germany eight years ago.