CR&FC ties up with KFC for the Inter-Club season
When one ‘Red’ leaves the ‘Red Shirts’ another of the same pigment steps in as a replacement to support their endervours as financial benefactor. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), a subsidiary of Cargills Ceylon Limited, announced their commitment with CR&FC, one of Sri Lanka’s leading Division ‘A’ rugby clubs who have experienced a mediocre season for the past couple of years.
At a press conference held at the club premises at Longdon Place in Colombo where CR&FC’s team for the upcoming season was also present. KFC’s financial commitment as CR&FC’s main sponsor for three years will go above an estimated amount of Rs. 10 million annually as sponsorship in addition to other assurances. Group Manager for KFC, Maljini Jayasekara was optimistic that her brand could facilitate CR&FC’s young rugby brigade in gaining their lost prestige under the leadership of lock forward Ishan Noor.
“KFC is a brand that delivers great food, energetic atmosphere and youthful experiences. Our outlook and promises are well to do with young people, recreation and enjoyment which I’m sure CR&FC possesses as a whole. The partnership is wholly a win-win situation for both sides and hopefully we would like to see it grow stronger in the future,” Jayasekara said.
For the Longdon Place club, the coming season is all about raising back their heads and proving a point. CR&FC’s President Christopher Jordashe who noted that his club is delighted to welcome KFC in place of former longtime partners HSBC told the Sunday Times, that the aim is to reach the top from their present standing in the League, which is seventh.
“We have recruited a Samoan coach, a New Zealand trainer and four Samoan players. Our boys began training since April and by this time, 19 of our players have been in action at over five Sevens tournaments held so far. We finished seventh in the League last season and our goal is to finish on top this coming season, and regain that old status of ours as ‘the Rugby Club’ in the country,” Jordashe stated.
Jordashe went on to reveal that CR&FC have already granted contracts to 40 players, including the four foreigners, in four tiers. Jordashe added that the amount received by the players in different tiers vary but averagely a player gets a handsome monthly allowance of Rs. 30,000 in addition to other features which come in a package.
“Our contracts for players have been in existence for some years. We offered similar packages when HSBC was our sponsor as part of our long term vision for the players and the sport. HSBC decided to exit from the commitment they had with us but the decision was genuinely based on their global commitments. CR&FC was the second rugby club in the world next to Australia’s Waratas and their commitment in the Asian and World Sevens circuits also had affects on our sponsorship.”
“But we have obtained a benefactor who has a broader vision for rugby as well as entertainment. We will definitely be able to see a vast improvement in rugby as well as other facets at the club. With the new sponsorship we managed to retain almost all of our players and bring back some of the key players who left the club in the past. With the development that has taken place we are certain of becoming the top Division ‘A’ team in Sri Lanka,” an optimistic Jordashe added after stamping the CR&KFC pairing.
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