NAIROBI, Kenya, July 19- Having become the face of the new Samsung Galaxy Mega Experience smart phone, local rugby sevens star Collins Injera, scored a major marketing try that could open new frontiers to his career.
However, the leading try scorer for his nation at the HSBC/IRB World Series is not ditching the oval ball for the cameras or marketing suit any time soon as he embarks on expanding his horizons.
Speaking to Capital Sports, Injera says this endorsement will only serve to advance his sporting career pointing out that the contract will not affect his training and playing programme.
“We have worked out a plan in the contract and time allocated for advertising the product does not affect my training sessions.
“Apart from being a brand ambassador I will be working with the Samsung marketing team in their activities to spread the awareness of the new smart phone,” he told.
He disclosed that he was approached a few days after the Rugby World Cup where his team finished fourth after another Main Cup semi final run in Moscow, Russia.
“When I was approached by Samsung I was excited, as this is an amazing thing as Samsung is a great brand,” he added.
He believes that Africa will be the next big innovation mantle as far as using sporting figures to push products as he urged his contemporaries to be the best at what they do to accrue such endorsements.
On his part Samsung Electronics East Africa Robert Ngeru said that Injera is well known for his achievements with the national rugby sevens team. “His eye for the line, electric pace and clinical finishing on field has seen him deliver mega performances.
“We are looking forward to the partnership with him that will see us engage fans around the similarly powerful smart phone,” Ngeru stressed.
Injera joins the class of other leading African sports icons who have been used by the South Korean electronic giants to push their products.
They include Ivory Coast footballers, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel and Ghana’s Michael Essien who were employed by Samsung to push LCD televisions when they played for English Premiership Club, Chelsea.
Other Kenyan sports personalities with endorsement deals include Olympics Javelin finalist Julius Yego (Orange Mobile), world record holder, David Rudisha (Safe Guard) and former world marathon record holder, Paul Tergat (Johnnie Walker).
Injera’s elder brother, Humphrey Kayange, was once contracted to push Kenchic chicken products.
– By Kang’ethe Njoroge
