With it officially confirmed by the club today that Sunderland AFC have strengthened there relations with Invest in Africa as they are now our official shirt sponsor does anyone think with the club looking to move grow into a global company that we will see a couple of players signing not just for there ability but for off field marketing as well? There is not only Africa though, last season the club signed Ji Dong-won, since then the club have visited South Korea to raise the clubs profile and are travelling to that part of the world for pre season, now did we buy Ji just because of his ability? Back to Africa and the club have links, we are in partnership with top Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko, I'm sure it will of helped that we had John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan playing for us at the time. SAFC as a business are seriously improving there international status. Now to the main part of my point and as I have said further up the page do you think that with regards to this transfer window and over the next 12months we will see players signed not just for there ability but for the marketing of the club as well? I personally wouldn't be surprised if the club do invest in Africa and we have another couple of African's at the club by this time next year, we have already been linked with to lads from Senegal over the last few days as well as South African Stephen Pienaar and I certainly wouldn't complain if we went for one of M'Bengue, Taiwo or Tienne as our new left back. Its not going to happen but Asamoah Gyan would of been the ideal man to promote what SAFC are trying to do. As for the far east we already have Ji but I wouldn't be surprised if we continue to monitor players from that part of the world as we grow as a business, Japan are starting to produce some good players now especially, I wouldn't be surprised if the club has its first Japanese player in the next couple of years, that Keisuke Honda wouldn't be a bad replacement for Sess if he does go. Have a watch of the vid at the top of the page with MoN and the players here http://www.investinafrica.com/sponsorship/sunderland_football_club.jsp
been saying that about Ji all year! the man is a money making, big team killing, relegation assisting TANK!
I personally don't think so, and i hope not. Buying players just for marketing can backfire. We need players that can actually produce.. I doubt very much that Ji has done very much to help raise the profile of SAFC except in his own city.
