São Paulo –The Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc signed a sponsorship contract with Santos Futebol Clube and will put its trademark and logo on the game-day jerseys of the team starting next year. The announcement of the partnership was done on Friday (11th) in a press conference at Vila Belmiro, Santos’ headquarters, by Modesto Roma Jr., the team’s president, and Eduardo Rezende, the team’s marketing executive.
In an interview via phone to ANBA, Rezende said that the partnership was being negotiated since the end of the first half, when the team’s and company’s representatives met in an event. The contract carries a one-year term with the option for two more.
“There was a synergy between Royal Air Maroc and Santos due to the company’s commercial interests in Brazil. We were chosen due to a strategic matter”, said the executive. The Moroccan company resumed its operations in Brazil in December 2013, with flights between São Paulo and Casablanca. Previously, the airline operated flights to Rio de Janeiro, but the route was cancelled back in 1992.
Rezende emphasized that, besides having its trademark on the club’s jersey, Royal Air Maroc will be allowed to put its logo in Santos’ various media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter and Santos TV, the team’s TV channel. “All the other actions will be very well explored”, he said.
For the marketing executive, the partnership, “besides allowing for great visibility, will allow Royal Air Maroc to establish [its brand] in a positive way” with Brazilians. “It’s very positive to be the partner of a great team, one with international visibility”. Santos was the team for which Pelé played for from 1956 to 1974.
Rezende believes that, with the sponsorship contract, there will be an exchange of values between the team and the airline. “The values of the Royal Air Maroc will be passed on to Santos and Santos’ will be passed on to Royal Air Maroc”, he said. “Santos’ values are those of a winning, young and daring brand. They are very positive qualities”, he added.
ANBA couldn’t reach Royal Air Maroc’s representative in Brazil to talk about the partnership.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
