Monrovia – The Liberia Football Association has announced a name change for the Football Association’s Cup or the Knockout Cup. The iconic tournament will now be known as the “Petro Trade Cup” beginning the 2019-2020 season.
The petroleum products company is already a shirt sponsor for first division club, Watanga FC. It is expected to pay L$13 million in a one-year deal with the Liberia Football Association.
The LFA and the oil and gas company on Friday, October 25, officially signed the agreement for the sponsorship of football association cup.
According to the deal, it will last for one year with an option to renew said Petro Trade’s Chief Coordinating Officer Abraham Kaydea.
Kaydea said the sponsorship is his company’s support to football development in the country, noting that they have been involved with the game during the past administration.
At the formal ceremony, the Petro Trade boss praised the LFA for the level of organization it has shown in developing young talents in the country.
Currently Petro Trade is sponsoring first division club Watanga FC, something the company believe is the right thing to give back to football in Liberia.
“This is part of our corporate social responsibility to Liberians, especially the youth,” Kaydea said; adding that their partnership with the Football House surpasses their contribution and association football in Liberia.
“It is an honor for me to represent my company here today at this important signing ceremony. This is a very great milestone for my company, which has identified with Liberian football for a long time.
“We were one of the sponsors of the last County Meet but this sponsorship agreement today for the LFA knockout cup is the biggest yet for us.
“Over time, we have realized that we were involved in something that was far bigger than anyone of us realized. Everybody knows that football is just more than football. Football is a great unifier.
“Throughout the next six months, teams from all over the country will play against one another. At the end, one team will win the title but all of us will be winners. We have come today as brothers and sisters of the LFA,” said Kaydea.
LFA President Mustapha Raji in joyous mood said he is grateful to Petro Trade for the massive investment.
Raji is calling on all other companies in the country to support football development like Petro trade has done.
He urged Liberians to now start to invest in petro trade because it will mean they are supporting football in the country and the national team of Liberia.
Accepting the agreement, which runs from November to May, LFA President Mustapha Raji commended the company for agreeing to contribute to football.
He stated that their contribution will go a long way; he called on all football lovers to contribute to the agreement by buying PTI’s products.
“We believe that this partnership will move ahead for a longer period. Petrol Trade sees it important to invest in youth and capacity building. It is now time that Liberians will look forward and ensure that we all work with Petrol Trade now that they are opening stations all around the country.
“Those who follow football, be it women’s football, be it the youth and male football, to turn to Petrol Trade and buy their products because the more you do it’s the more they will be able to reinvest in Liberian football,” Raji encouraged.
According to the agreement LFA and PTI marketing and communications departments will collaborate in formulating a common marketing strategy for the Petrol Trade Cup, including a specifically-designed board for pre and post-match news conferences.
PTI will provide two branded sets of jerseys with their logo for the winner of the Petrol Trade Cup to be worn in the CAF Confederation Cup, LFA Super Cup, President George Weah’s Cup and Who Owns The Land tournaments.
Financial breakdown
PTI will pay L$3 million immediately after the signing ceremony, L$3 million after 60 days for the second payment, L$3 million after 90 days for the third payment and L$3.5 million as cash awards to the four teams at the closing ceremony (champions and runners-up) in the male and female divisions on 3 May 2020.
PTI will also make an additional investment to the LFA, totaling L$4 million for trophies, medals, promotion and marketing of the Petrol Trade Cup.
Petro Trade Inc. is a Liberian-based importer and supplier of petroleum products and is the parent company of the Super Petroleum (SP) and Liberian Petroleum (LP) brands.