NAIROBI, June 15 -Ivory Coast captain and Manchester City star midfielder, Yaya Toure has been announced by Bharti Airtel Africa on Monday as the new African face for its upcoming continental campaign.
Airtel’s partnership with the 2015 Afcon winning captain will launch the brand’s “It’s Now” campaign which seeks to nurture and grow talent in Africa through various consumer touch points such as sports, lifestyle and music while providing customers with access to connectivity and technological solutions that will enable them explore opportunities .
“Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have a great deal of success on the field. However, I know that the strongest performances come only when you commit 100 percent to the task at hand and display the strength and mettle to give it your all.
“It’s Now” is a campaign that is close to my heart as it calls on Africans to embrace the opportunities around them to better their lives. I am glad to be working with Airtel, with its wide reach within Africa, in order to inspire many people,” Toure said
“We are excited to be signing the pact with Mr. Touré who is respected in Africa and beyond. As the first player to win African Player of the Year four consecutive times, Touré is an inspiration to everyone working to achieve their potential and striving to be their best every day,” Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer, Christian de Faria added.
The partnership will see Touré support Airtel’s corporate social responsibility particularly in youth empowerment for development.
The 32-year-old midfielder then insisted he will definitely be staying at City, even going as far to suggest he could sign an extension to his current contract, which ends in 2017 following intense speculation over his future.
Inter Milan boss, Roberto Mancini who brought Toure to City in 2010 before being sacked by the club in 2013 has not given up hope of persuading him to cross over to the Italian giants.
The duo had several fruitful seasons together at City, winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 2011, before winning the Premier League in 2012.
Having entered the African market in 2010, Airtel Africa has steadily increased its customer base in Africa to reach over 70 million people.