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New Zealand Football (NZF) has announced a significant new partnership with ASB. This multi-million dollar five-year partnership will drive the development of the sport, assisting NZF with their goal to implement a âwhole of football planâ for the benefit of New Zealanders.
ASBâs commitment to NZF will transcend all levels of the game in New Zealand, from children playing their first friendly games at the grassroots level through to sponsorship of referees and premier football. ASB will also be the naming rights sponsor of the ASB International Series â the All Whites games scheduled to take place in Auckland and Wellington during October 2010.
ASB Chief Executive Charles Pink explains âASB is excited to be involved in a sport played by all ages, abilities and genders.
âThe upcoming ASB International Series and the launch of the ASB Premiership the following week flag the commencement of this important partnership.
âThe ASB team is delighted to be assisting New Zealand Football to create football families for life.�?
The new partnership will see ASB as the principal sponsor of NZFâs grassroots football programmes, helping to cement the game as the most-played sport in New Zealand for children under 12 years old. Development of talented young players will be encouraged by ASBâs Football Festivals, Holiday Programmes, Drop in Centres and After School Programmes.
As part of NZFâs youth programme, ASB will work alongside three other partners to support the development and delivery of NZFâs Small Whites programme across the country, encouraging four to 11-year-old football players and their parents to get active and involved in football.
All elite competitions across New Zealand will also be supported by ASB, including the ASB Premiership (formerly the New Zealand Football Championship), ASB Chatham Cup, ASB National Youth League, ASB National Women's Youth League and ASB Women's Knockout Cup.
New Zealand Football has also been working to establish the new ASB Phoenix Challenge, where the eight ASB Premiership clubs will enter into a competition with a Phoenix reserve team.
NZF Chief Executive Michael Glading adds âNew Zealand Football is delighted to partner with ASB, a national brand with strong roots in our local communities.
âFootball is moving from strength to strength in this country and this partnership with ASB is a crucial step in our strategy to grow involvement in our sport from the grassroots right through to elite levels.�?
The 100,000 players and many more thousands of supporters at football games on winter weekends will also benefit from ASBâs support of football across New Zealand, with the partnership including sponsorship of all grassroots and elite-level referees.

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/

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