Bank of Kigali on Friday, May 31, signed a one-year partnership deal with Veterans Club World Championship (VCWC) as both entities hope to explore and benefit from the business side of the 2024 VCWC tournament scheduled to take place in Kigali from September 1-10.
The deal was signed at the Bank of Kigali headquarters, signaling that both parties were content with the terms of agreement and the associate benefits.
Speaking at the event, Bank of Kigali CEO Dr. Diane Karusisi said that, as the premier financial institution in Rwanda, it was prudent for her entity to partner with VCWC so as to open the way for the 150 legends who will feature in the events and others to do business in Rwanda.
"Bank of Kigali wants to build business innovations. Beyond the fun aspect of football, we see many business opportunities which can be sought after. We want BK to be the channel through which investors can open and do business in Rwanda." Karusisi indicated.
"We want to be the sole banking partner of the VCWC and the platform through which people can use to do business in Rwanda.”
"Our partnership with VCWC goes beyond football, it not only underscores our commitment to supporting sports and fostering community spirit but it also highlights our dedication to creating meaningful opportunities for engagement and development as well as fostering economic growth," she added.
Fred Siewe, the founder of VCWC and the brains behind the highly-anticipated tournament in Kigali, also highlighted that the partnership with BK is very key as they will have a great impact on the legends.
"For BK to be our banking partner is very key. When we speak about business, we need a bank with a proven track record and they have shown that. As part of the partnership, BK will give us an amount of money to support the event. They will also enjoy branding visibility at the stadium and there will be a business dinner where officials of BK will interact with the legends," Siewe told The New Times.
Through the partnership, Bank of Kigali customers will enjoy a 10 percent discount on tickets for the VCWC, which will be available through the official ticketing platform in June. Also, the customers will have an opportunity to interact with the football legends and participate in exclusive business to business engagements.
The VCWC will attract some 150 football legends from across the globe. Brazilian World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldinho, Oliver Khan, Michael Owen, George Weah, Austin Okocha, Gaizka Mendieta, Patrice Evra are among a host of legends expected to grace the event.