KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) — CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (“CIMB” or “the Group”) has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Malaysian Football League (“MFL”) as Title Sponsor of the Liga Super Malaysia, the nation’s premier football league, and Piala Sumbangsih.
The league’s official name “CIMB Liga Super Malaysia” was unveiled at a launch ceremony today, attended by top representatives from both CIMB and MFL. CIMB Bank Berhad (“CIMB Bank”) is also the Official Bank for Liga Malaysia, which includes Liga Super Malaysia, Liga Premier Malaysia, Piala FA, Piala Malaysia and Piala Sumbangsih.
This is the first time that CIMB is sponsoring a national league, and the Group is committed to elevate the experience for Malaysian football’s 20 million fans, particularly its customers.
The sponsorship was unveiled today at a launch ceremony by Tengku Zafrul; Datuk Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin, President, Malaysian Football League; Gurdip Singh Sidhu, Group Chief Strategy and Design Officer, CIMB Group; and Dato’ Ab Ghani Hassan, Acting CEO, Malaysian Football League.
CIMB is no stranger to the local sporting scene, having supported world-class Malaysian athletes such as Malaysia’s star cyclist, Pocket Rocketman Azizulhasni Awang and, in the past, Datuk Nicol David, former world’s number one squash legend, to shine on the global sporting stage. Similarly, in football, CIMB has also actively developed aspiring footballers at grassroots level through its corporate social responsibility arm, CIMB Foundation (“the Foundation”), for more than a decade.
The Foundation’s support of junior football academies has helped nurture young talent, quite a few of whom have made it to the professional level. These include Mohd Hadin Azman (Kedah); R. Kogileswaran (U22 Malaysia & PJ City FC); Muhammad Alif Safwan (Kuala Lumpur) and R. Dinesh (U22 Malaysia & Pahang FC).
Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, Group CEO, CIMB Group said, “CIMB is pleased to work with MFL to create a new and exciting fan experience for the CIMB Liga Super Malaysia. With a 20-million fan base, football is not only the most popular national sport, but also strategic in terms of the opportunities to engage with Malaysians who love football. There is also nothing quite like football to unite Malaysians across all races and social backgrounds. Equally exciting is the chance to reward CIMB customers, who are in for a treat based on various deals and fan-engagement initiatives related to CIMB Liga Super Malaysia.”
“CIMB is also proud of those Liga Super players who were beneficiaries of CIMB Foundation-sponsored junior football development programmes. This is a clear reflection of CIMB’s focus on initiatives that are not only beneficial to society, but also aligned with CIMB Group’s refreshed vision to “advance customers and society,” continued Tengku Zafrul.
Datuk Haji Hamidin, MFL President said “MFL is delighted and welcomes CIMB Bank as our new partner in Liga Malaysia. To have CIMB Bank, one of ASEAN & Malaysia’s fastest-growing bank, take a bold step to be the Title Sponsor in its maiden foray into our national league, epitomizes their ambition in achieving targets under their Forward23 blueprint.”
“We at MFL, have our very own strategic blueprint called Next50, and the key vision both CIMB and MFL share in our blueprints are growth and sustainability. This is the reason we felt that a partnership is only natural and both MFL and CIMB are happy to see this come to fruition at this ceremony.”
“We are also very encouraged to see more corporate sectors joining the Liga Malaysia family, which is proof that brands and businesses believe that MFL has increased the value of Malaysian football, as we are putting in every effort to reach our visions and missions in Next50.”
“MFL is also very committed to working closely with our sponsors to ensure we take fan and customers’ football experiences to the next level.”
Also present at the launch were CIMB Liga Super Malaysia and Liga Premier Malaysia stars Safee Sali, Brendan Gan, Khairul Amri and Aiman Khalidi, together with representatives from the CIMB sponsored football academies as well as other CIMB Foundation pan-disability football beneficiaries, including blind and amputee footballers.
CIMB customers and credit card holders are eligible for, among others, special discounts on tickets and other privileges that will be announced in due course. The CIMB Liga Super Malaysia’s presence will also be amplified through various fan-engagement initiatives like soccer clinics and meet-and-greet events with star players.
The curtain-raiser of the Liga Malaysia 2020 season will kick off on 28 February at Sultan Ibrahim Larkin Stadium with the CIMB Piala Sumbangsih.
Ticket sales for the CIMB Liga Super Malaysia 2020 will start nearer to kick off date and can be purchased in person at the stadium or online at tickethotline.com.my.
