Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
News
Cosmetics firms battle on the pitch after Kelantan goes pink

Kelantan’s Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV may not be the only one going through a makeover.

Last week, Kelantan’s The Red Warriors agreed to paint its stadium pink as condition for sponsorship offer from cosmetics firm Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd. And since then, other cosmetics companies are hustling to be in the game.

Besides Vida Beauty, the maker of popular product Qu Puteh, other firms interested include Nouvelles Visages and D’Herbs Holdings.

The colour pink may not be synonymous with the macho sport of football, but Malaysian Football Coaches Association president B Sathianathan believes one must move on with the times.

Sathianathan said stakeholders must accept that the sport is now “an industry” and sponsorship makes up a large part of a football team’s revenue.

“A football club not only needs funds for its players, but can use this to source to acquire new talent among youngsters,” he told Malaysiakini .

But, don't meddle in the clubs...

However, Sathianathan cautions sponsors against meddling in the technical matters of football club management, such as coaching and player selection.

“They can impose conditions on the clubs but there are limits to it. They can’t have the same powers as a coach, for example.

“Yes, they are the ones giving the funds but their influence can only be in the marketing and branding aspects, even if the fans do not mind them meddling further.”

Former national football team manager Ong Kim Swee admits that a lot of funds must be invested if Malaysian football is to reach international standards.

“Sponsorship is a source of income and can help a team reach great heights, especially when a sporting league is privatised.

“Each team requires massive funding and sponsors can gain from the publicity,” Ong said.

However, he said there should be a guideline for sponsorship to ensure terms imposed are not outlandish.

“Football has its own rules and we are governed by bodies such as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the International Football Federation (Fifa),” he said.

Read more at the Malaysiakini SUKAN section

ADS