NASHUA (PTY) Ltd will take over the principal sponsorship and add R4 million per year to the coffers of the Cape Cobras, the team that has won seven of the last twelve competitions in the country and is generally known as the domestic trend-setter.
The Nashua Cape Cobras will leave on the Champions League Twenty20-mission to India in the new sponsorship kit on Saturday, their third attempt in this prestigious global T20-tournament to lift the silverware and add to their impressive collection of trophies.
In announcing the sponsorship deal, André Odendaal, CEO of Western Cape Cricket (Pty) Litd said: “I am thrilled that Nashua (Pty) Ltd will be on board. They are leading providers of management document services and office automation printing solutions in Southern Africa. As a force in South African cricket and a nursery for South African stars, we are glad to associate ourselves with a prominent industry leader. It is a perfect fit.”
The announcement was down at the Ratanga Junction theme parkand the team joined the management team afterwards for a roller-coaster ride on the officially named and branded Nashua Cape Cobras Thrill Ride, or the famous Cobra-ride.
The Cobras and their shareholder provinces Western Province and Boland have won or reached the finals 61 % of the time in the top 15 CSA amateur and professional competitions – 26 titles and nine finals out of total of 57 -in the past four seasons, an indication of the region’s domination domestically.
Western Province have also been rated by Cricket South Africa in the latest budget programs as the number-one ranked province in the country on and off the field, commented Odendaal.
Odendaal said the partnership with Nashua will enable the Cobras to strengthen their high performance program.
Twelve non-contracted players were assisted by the Nashua Cape Cobras during an off-season winter program to accelerate and broaden their skills.
“We trust that this association (with Nashua) will result in the Cape Cobras maintaining their recent momentum and pursuing even more silverware,” said Odendaal.
The Cobras won the Sunfoil Series in 2013/2014, shared the spoils with The Unlimited Titans in the Momentum One-Day Cup campaign and missed out by 2 runs in the final of the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge tournament against the Sunfoil Dolphins.
Justin Ontong, the Nashua Cape Cobras captain, thanked the new sponsors and said unless the team has a big sponsorship team behind them, they cannot fulfil their dreams. “We are raring to go. We cannot wait to get on the flight to India,” an excited Ontong said. The team leave for India on 13th September.
Odendaal said a new stadium sponsorship will also be announced during the season.
Jessica Midlane, communications manager at Nashua Limited, also applauded the new association with the Cape Cobras.
Asked about Nashua’s social responsibility program off the field, she said the Nashua Children’s Charity (NCCF) assisted 58 charities across the country. The NCCF has helped with furniture, educational materials, copiers, PCs, groceries and outings for the children. The organization also assists more than 10 000 with 360 000 meals every month, which include two meals a day and a school lunch pack per child.
The 2014/2015 Cape Cobras squad for the season is: Justin Ontong (capt), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Beuran Hendricks, Justin Kemp, Shaheen Khan, Richard Levi, Aviwe Mgijima, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane
Piedt, Andrew Puttick, Omphile Ramela, Mthokozisi Shezi, Mohammed Vallie, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Lizaad Williams; Rookie: Clyde Fortuin; CSA contracted Cobras players: Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Rory Kleinveldt, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn.
