LALIGA EXTRATIME, an innovative initiative by Spain’s premier football league, recently convened a discussion focusing on the intersection of digital transformation, grassroots engagement, and the impact of sponsorship in African football at The Venue in Sandton, South Africa. Key stakeholders from across the sports landscape gathered to explore strategies for leveraging digital platforms, fostering grassroots initiatives, and harnessing sponsorships to deepen fan engagement and drive sustainable development across South Africa and the broader African continent.
The event commenced with a discussion on grassroots work featuring insights from LALIGA Africa Marketing Manager Natalie Barlow, Kelvin Watt of Supersport Schools, and Eugene Thipe of Royal Bafokeng Sports. Emphasizing the transformative power of football, particularly in disadvantaged communities, the panel highlighted investments in youth academies, coaching clinics, and community empowerment initiatives aimed at nurturing talent and promoting inclusivity.
LALIGA has already implemented initiatives such as schools, camps and coaching clinics, imparting exposure and experience to Spanish methodologies and empowering children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Supersport schools has already hit the ground running with ensuring that growth and exposure is given to school sports and young athletes. Royal Bafokeng Sports shared their impactful initiatives in Mafikeng, focusing on basketball transformation through partnerships with organizations like the NBA and now LALIGA, illustrating the potential for further growth in their football landscape consisting of various academies.
The subsequent session delved into sponsorship in sports, led by Tresor Penku of LALIGA, Ryan Cumming of Supersport, and Tumelo Selikane of Nielsen Sports. Highlighting the importance of strategic partnerships with brands, the discussion emphasized understanding fans, content analytics, and fan engagement maximization as essential elements for attracting sponsors.
This session also highlighted how forging alliances with leading brands and corporate entities isn’t just as easy as ABC but in the process, advised on how sporting brands, football clubs can identify gaps that can be used to position themselves in the rightful direction.
The final discussion centered on fan engagement and digital transformation, led by representatives from Hollywoodbets SA, NBA, and EXP Agency. Recognizing the role of technology in enhancing fan experiences, the panel discussed innovative digital platforms and initiatives to transcend geographical barriers and foster vibrant football communities.
NBA is also one organization that has consistently been working on transforming basketball in the African continent. One of their entities, the Basketball Africa League recently concluded the Kalahari Conference at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. Fans and lovers of the sport are affectionately labelled as “The Cool Kids” and pop out to the event portraying the culture and lifestyle of basketball which is another drive for fan engagement.
Through strategic collaborations with local stakeholders, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, LALIGA AFRICA champions initiatives promoting gender equality, youth empowerment, and social cohesion, utilizing football as a catalyst for positive change.
By leveraging technology, fostering community-centric initiatives, and forging partnerships, LALIGA AFRICA is not only enriching the fan experience but also driving sustainable development and shaping the future of football across the continent.
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