Bytes Document Solutions, the distributor of Xerox in 24 African countries, has provided a major cash injection to the University of the Free State rugby team, the Shimlas, with a sponsorship worth more than R1 million over a three-year period.
The money will be used for bursaries to attract talented young rugby players, says Mickey Gordon, head strategic sport and business development at University of the Free State.
"Many sports organisations use sponsorship money for operational purposes," says Gordon, "but we are using it to invest in the future of our rugby team."
Shimlas are one of South Africa's leading rugby clubs, and a team with a proud record. They have won the Free State city title 40 times, and last year won the Melrose Sevens in Scotland. The club has yielded 62 Springboks and this year alone, more than 20 players have turned out for the Cheetahs, South Africa's most successful Currie Cup team of recent times and a competitor in the Super 14.
Most recently, Shimlas won the University Sports South Africa rugby tournament in Durban, beating off the best from other tertiary education institutions to emerge victorious.
An example of how much Shimlas contribute to South African rugby is the number of ex-Shimlas who have played for the Springboks this season: CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Juan Smith, Ruan Pienaar and Tonderai Chavanga.
Shimlas' annual intervarsity with Pukke from Potchefstroom is a highlight of the national rugby calendar, although the Shimlas have lost the last three intervarsities to the Pukke, bringing a sharp edge to this year's game as the men from Bloemfontein seek revenge and to end their losing streak.
"Xerox is investing in the long-term future not just of Shimlas rugby, but also in that of the Free State Cheetahs, and South African rugby," adds Gordon. "This will have a major impact on the team, the university, and on Cheetahs and national rugby. We are delighted to be able to partner with a company like Xerox."
Xerox stands to gain a great deal in terms of brand awareness, says Rob Abraham, MD of Bytes Document Solutions. "We will have the Xerox name emblazoned on the Shimlas jerseys, as prominently as we do with our other major rugby sponsorship, the Xerox Lions. The Shimlas play more than 20 games a season, including 10 in the nationally televised Varsity Cup. This ensures we will enjoy return on investment.
"However, our investment in the Shimlas relates to more than exposure. As with the Xerox Lions, we believe in the long-term future of South Africa, its education and its sportsmen, and our sponsorship reflects this."
Shimlas and Xerox have a long record of working together. Bytes Document Solutions has maintained the university's print room in a facilities management contract for a decade; Dr Bill Venter, chairman of holding company Altron, received an honorary Doctorate of Commerce at the university; and Dr Harold Serebro, senior executive director of Altron, was awarded a Ph D by the university.
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Bytes Document Solutions, a Bytes Technology Group company, wholly owned by JSE-listed Altron, is the authorised Xerox distributor to 24 sub-Saharan countries. Bytes Document Solutions is engaged in the marketing and servicing of the complete range of Xerox document equipment, software, solutions and services. The company operates through an extensive network of distributors, dealers, concessionaires and channel partners. Its products include printing and publishing systems; digital copiers; laser and solid ink printers; fax machines; digital multifunctional devices which can print, copy, scan and fax; document management software; and supplies, such as toner, paper, and ink. The company also provides software and workflow solutions to businesses for printing books, creating personalised documents for their customers, and scanning and routing digital information. Black economic empowerment partner Kagiso Trust owns a 27% stake of the company. For more information on Bytes Document Solutions and Xerox, visit www.xerox.com/news.
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