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Top African Fintech company Mukuru announces Crystal Palace sponsorship

Top African Fintech company Mukuru has announced that it will be the 2022/23 official sleeve sponsor for English Premier League side, Crystal Palace.

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Mukuru, a next generation financial services platform and one of the largest money transfer providers in Africa, will become Crystal Palace’s official sleeve sponsor for the 2022/23 season. 

Mukuru is a Fintech business that provides the African diaspora safe, convenient money transfers and the average person access to financial services and simple solutions for sending cash into, out of, or around Africa. With 42 branches across the continent, 320,000 pay-in and pay-out locations across Africa and South Asia and 60 global partnerships, Mukuru is diversifying even further.

Speaking on the organisation’s value system, CEO Andy Jury said, “Mukuru is a business that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do. Our essence and passion lie in helping to solve problems for Africa’s emerging consumers through financial inclusion and uniting people across the world. This passion drives the way we do business, the way we communicate with our customers, and the way we choose partnerships.”

The business will be the official sleeve sponsor for Crystal Palace. The premier league team has several players who represent African countries, an aspect that Mukuru intends to capitalise on, according to the sponsorship announcement.

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Barry Webber, Commercial Director of Crystal Palace, commented: “This is a really exciting partnership for Crystal Palace, and we’re thrilled to welcome Mukuru on board. As a club, we are incredibly proud of our links with the African continent, which were encapsulated by midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate winning the African Cup of Nations earlier this year. This partnership will help us to continue to expand our international fanbase, and Mukuru joins us at a fantastically exciting time for the club, both on the pitch and off of it.”

For Mukuru, the sponsorship was a predetermined shift as their customers are already avid supporters of Crystal Palace.

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“Soccer is the most supported sport on the African continent, uniting people globally, and our customers identified Crystal Palace as one of the teams they support,” Andy Jury explained.

The team has, “several African players and an iconic coach with strong African heritage in Patrick Viera, who our Mukuru customers look up to and resonate with. We are excited to be associated with Crystal Palace, a well-respected and prestigious Premier League team. The sponsorship places Mukuru on an international stage, further entrenching our global presence, operating in over 50 countries around the world.”

This is however not the only sports deal Mukuru has entered to boost its brand awareness and tap into Africa’s sports prowess. It has also struck a naming rights deal with top Malawi Super League Team, The Mighty Wanderers FC, and a sponsorship arrangement with Springbok legend Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira.

Tendai Mtawarira

Tendai Mtawarira known by the nickname Beast Photo:Twitter/Springboks

“We are excited to have struck a deal, in consultation with the Football Association of Malawi and with the Mighty Wanderers… with the naming rights, they will be called the Mighty Mukuru Wanderers,” Andy Jury said.

“Malawi… also happens to be an important market for Mukuru, as Malawian expatriates all around the world use the service to send money home to their loved ones. Malawi is home to millions of passionate soccer fans, and the opportunity to sponsor a Malawian team came at the right time to demonstrate our passion for home-grown success stories. We are excited at the prospect of having our name soar in the Malawian Super League.”

As for Zimbabwean-born rugby legend Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira his career journey and trajectory also speak to excellence and the possibility of surmounting impossible odds.

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Mtawarira spoke about the partnership saying, “Mukuru started in my homeland in Zimbabwe and what this brand does is amazing in the way it connects Africans all around the globe, giving them the ability to provide for their families back home. I remember a certain time when I was trying to provide for my mom and family back home in Zim and Mukuru is that solution, making it easy to send money back home. Another thing that I love about the Mukuru brand is that it has a Pan-African approach, as I identify as a Pan-Africanist at heart myself. This brand is truly something special.”

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