KATHMANDU, April 16: Even before marking its debut in top flight, Madhyapur Youth Association (MYA) has got Iceberg Beer, a product of Himalayan Brewery Limited, as its sponsor for a year.
MYA and Himalayan Brewery inked the deal to this effect in the capital on Monday. MYA President Upendra Man Singh and Himalayan Brewery General Manager, sales and marketing, Kishor Bhattarai signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
As the chief sponsor, Himalayan Brewery will spend Rs 1.36 million for the club, out of which Rs 400,000 will be provided in cash while other amount will be spent on t-shirts, promotion, advertisement, etc. In return, the club will be officially named Iceberg MYA.
Himalayan Brewery is also planning to spend Rs 520,000 to conduct A division football tournament entitled Iceberg Gold Cup Football Tournament. The event will be organized by MYA at Madhyapur Thimi. Himalayan Brewery is also organizing a corporate Five-A-Side Tournament within a month.
According to Bhattarai, the sponsorship of the club was under the company´s new initiative called Iceberg entertainment which aims to support music, sports, movie and adventure.
"The achievement of the club in a short period motivated us for the deal. We were looking for a football club and MYA seemed perfect for us," Bhattarai said. He also hinted at extending the contract to coming years as well as involving other brands under the company in future if the agreement becomes fruitful.
"We may come with improved agreement in coming years as well. But it will depend upon the performance of the team. We believe the agreement will also be helpful for the club in reducing financial burden," Bhattarai said.
Speaking during the function, MYA President Singh said that the club was established five years ago with the dream of breaking into A division, and the first phase of the dream was fulfilled. "We have fulfilled the first phase of our dream. Next, we aim to make the club more professional, set up an academy and lift the standard of football in the nation."
Singh informed that current annual budget of the club was up to Rs 6 million and also claimed that the club would lift the A division league title soon. Revealing his plans for meeting the budget, Singh said, "We are also looking for a co-sponsor and we will also raise funds from life members, members and request Madhyapur Thimi Municipality which has always supported us with fund."
ANFA President Ganesh Thapa lauded MYA for its achievement which began with setting up of an academy. "As MYA is community based club, we are excited to see it compete in the top flight and the huge presence of its supporters during its matches," Thapa said.
Thapa also said that running a club was itself a challenging job and wished for its stability in the top flight. "We have heard complaints from clubs that rather than earning profit they face loss by playing football. But in the coming days we will create environment for earning profit if it wins a league."
Marking its debut match in the top flight, MYA will take on Nepal Army Club on Thursday in the ongoing British Gorkha Cup Football Tournament. MYA got promoted to A division this year as the runner up of Martyrs Memorial B Division League. MYA recently won the title of Red Bull B Division National League.
The function was also attended by senior officials of Himalayan Brewery, including its director Sabin Bhakta Joshi, officials of the MYA and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Chief Executive Ram Prasad Pathak.
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