Football Partnerships

Millions of mobile and online content
users across Africa and the Middle East will reap the benefits of a landmark
tie-up between MTN and IMImobile - an India-based software and managed services
provider linked to 350 content providers worldwide.

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Standard Bank has recommitted its support to Pan African football by signing an eight year deal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

In the new commercial agreement with CAF, Standard Bank has secured sponsorship rights — as the official financial services sponsor — to the following tournaments:

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A new deal will see telecommunications company Orange will sponsor all major competitions organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the next eight years.

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By NANCY ARMOUR

Charlize Theron is giving underprivileged South African children a place to play soccer.

The Academy Award winner’s Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project is teaming up with LAFC Chelsea Soccer Club in Los Angeles to build community soccer programs. In addition to soccer fields, uniforms and equipment, kids involved in the program will receive health education and services.

The project, announced Tuesday, will serve schools in South Africa’s Umkhanyakude District, an area plagued by a high rate of HIV infection. Theron hopes to have the first fields built by the time the World Cup begins next June 11.

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By Tricia Duryee

The mobile industry is always looking for the next big event, such as the Olympics, March Madness or the inauguration, to usher in the next wave of adoption. The latest buzz is that the soccer world championships will have the same effect?not in traditional cellular markets, but in Africa.

Reuters reports that more than 10 mobile TV broadcasting networks will be launched in Africa in time for the 2010 World Cup, which is taking place in South Africa, and FIFA, the major soccer governing body, said it will also be offering live coverage, specifically tailored to mobile phones for the first time. Billions are expected to tune in for traditional broadcasts.

Stefan Schneiders, the head of Business Development for Mobile TV at Nokia (NYSE: NOK) Siemens, told Reuters he expects many networks to be live and capable of distributing the coverage in several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Namibia.

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