UK-based Arsenal Football Club and African mobile network operator, Airtel have today signed a three-year partnership agreement. The deal provided Airtel with the opportunity to utilize the Club’s merchandising, hospitality and content rights in five countries; Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda. It also made Airtel the official mobile operator of the 2012 Arsenal Tour to Nigeria. A statement from Airtel Africa office in Nairobi, Kenya said the agreement would help the north London side reach some of its 42million fans across the continent, while Airtel customers in the five countries would have the opportunity to win match tickets to watch this summer’s pre-season tour fixture. “Customers would also receive exclusive Club content and news direct to handsets,” the statement said. The statement said Arsenal would also support the Airtel Rising Stars football program, an annual, multi-country grassroots soccer initiative that offers young boys and girls the opportunity to play compete and showcase their talent to selectors in their respective countries. The selected youngsters get an opportunity to get the best-in-class sports training during a residential clinic organized by Airtel and her partners. The Gunners will provide UEFA-trained coaches to assist with training in each of the five markets and at an Arsenal Coaching Clinic for up to 50 footballers. Airtel Ghana Managing Director, Philip Sowah was quoted as saying: “Football fans across Ghana are known for their passion of the great game. Arsenal’s exciting style of play and a history of working with the best talent from Africa will enrich this partnership and offer a wealth of opportunities for upcoming players and fans. The partnership provides an impetus to the Airtel Rising Stars program in Ghana.’’ Arsenal’s Head of Global Partnerships Vinai Venkatesham said: “I am delighted to welcome Airtel into our family of Commercial Partners. This is the second long-term partnership arrangement to arise from the continent and we look forward to developing a number of exciting initiatives with Airtel, starting with our forthcoming tour to Nigeria in August. This underlines the depth of our following in Africa and how the profile of the Club continues to grow internationally.” The 2012 visit would be Arsenal’s second pre-season tour to Africa, having played a fixture in South Africa in 1993. It would feature a game between the Arsenal first-team and the Nigerian National Team, the Super Eagles on Saturday 5th August. Airtel is in the process of finalizing arrangements that will give selected customers a chance to watch the match and interact with the team in Abuja. The details of the promotion will be announced soon. Recently, Bharti Airtel in India also announced that it is selecting 12 under-16 football talents through its Rising Stars project in that country, to go for a one week stint with Manchester United at Stanford Bridge in the UK.