Stanchart launches ‘Road to Anfield 2015’ campaign

STANDARD Chartered Bank of Zimbabwe last night launched its ‘Road to Anfield 2015’ five -aside international football tournament.

The tournament which will be held in Zimbabwe for the first time was announced at a cocktail held at the Standard Chartered Bank Sports Club in Harare.

The ‘Standard Chartered Trophy – Road to Anfield 2015’ is an international five aside football tournament that provides local markets with a platform from which to actively engage football fans and also help them donate to charity in order to develop football.

It is hinged on the bank’s Liverpool Football Club sponsorship and is an opportunity for Standard Chartered to reinforce its partnership with the English Premier League giants and generate direct benefits to the businesses.

The campaign which has been running in various Standard Chartered markets for more than three years will be held for the first time in Zimbabwe this year.

There will be 24 teams for the Zimbabwe Chapter of the Liverpool tournament which includes staff, corporate bodies and clients.

The tournament will take place on Saturday February 28, 2015.

A regional tournament with the winning teams from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana will be held in Lusaka.

The winner will represent southern Africa on Liverpool’s home ground, Anfield, where a total of 10 teams from across the Standard Chartered Group will tussle it out for the trophy.

Addressing guests at the launch, Standard Chartered Bank of Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Ralph Watungwa, said Standard Chartered Bank was proud to be associated with Liverpool, one of the world’s best known football clubs.

“The Standard Chartered Trophy is hinged on the bank’s Liverpool FC sponsorship,” said Watungwa.

“While it has been running in various Standard Chartered markets for more than three years and has grown very popular, it is the first time it is being held in Zimbabwe.

“We are therefore very excited to host this fun-filled interactive campaign for the first time in Zimbabwe for our stakeholders.

“The campaign received an accolade in May 2014 when it was awarded, ‘Best International Marketing Campaign’ by BT Sports Industry Awards — considered to be a pinnacle award within the sports marketing industry. This affirms the type of campaign we are launching today.”

Harton Maliki, the bank’s head of retail clients weighed in saying: “We are delighted by this initiative that will work towards promoting the game of football in Zimbabwe. This truly testifies the tag line of Standard Chartered which is; Here for good, and will inspire and motivate the youth and all those that have a passion for the game.”