The South African Football Association (Safa) has signed a five-year R50-million sponsorship deal with OUTsurance, making the company the new match officials’ sponsor.

The deal, which is the first of its kind in South African football, will see the match officials’ kit bear the logo along with company branding.

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The referees across the Absa Premiership, National First Division, ABC Motsepe League, SAB League, Sasol Women’s League and all cup matches, will don the new kits starting this weekend.

The partnership is aimed at improving the standard of South African football by focusing funds on grassroots development of underprivileged match officials to promote employment in the sector.

Funds will also be used to facilitate the training and development of the referees as well as ensure that the match officials receive fair remuneration packages.

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Safa CEO Dennis Mumble admitted at the launch that the partnership with OUTsurance will aid in the realisation of Vision 2022, which is the fundamental rebuilding of the structures of Safa at all levels to attempt to create the conditions that will bring about the sustained international success of the country’s national teams.

‘As the South African Football Association, we are excited to partner with a corporation that has already achieved so much with their existing sponsorships, moreover, their solid support of the national rugby team has demonstrated to us their commitment to making a difference.

‘Our motivation to partner with OUTsurance was that their objectives for the sponsorship aligned with those we have set out for Vision 2022. Key to the success of Vision 2022 is the progress and inclusion of women in football which this sponsorship will assist in achieving,’ concluded Mumble.

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Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix