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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ shirt sponsor OTB Looks has advised the club to negotiate for royalties with owners of Castle Lager and Fidelity Insurance whose logos are inscribed on the fans’ replica jerseys.

OTB Looks chief executive officer Peter Chiveso said they inscribed the logos as a free add for the clubs to make the replicas as identical as possible to the playing kit but the onus was on the club to negotiate a deal with the brand owners.

“It’s excellent marketing for Castle Lager and Fidelity that actually hasn’t cost them a cent. The clubs should be taking advantage of this and getting something out of it.

“Imagine if Bosso sell 5 000 replicas; that’s 5 000 moving billboards for Castle Lager and Fidelity across the country and worldwide.

“These organisations have huge marketing budgets, which the clubs can tap into,” said Chiveso.

He said the two brands don’t have to necessarily enter into a sponsorship agreement with Highlanders, but could show gratitude and appreciation by buying replicas and giving them to their employees or customers as gifts.

“The club will benefit from the sales and the brands get their brand out to the people. Someone needs to approach the marketing people at these organisations and make a simple pitch,” he said.

OTB Looks and Highlanders have a three-year relationship, which was initially meant to kick-off last year, but Chiveso revealed last week that due to the outbreak of Covid-19, which paralysed the football season last year, the relationship effectively kicks off this year.