StarTimes Unveils ‘Papilo’ as Brand Ambassador

StarTimes Africa, a digital TV entertainment platform, has appointed world football icon, Kanu Nwankwo as its new brand ambassador.

The 3-year partnership deal indicates that the former African footballer is the new face of StarTimes PayTV across 12 African markets where it presently operates, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, DRC, Uganda and others.

Mr. Jack Liu, chief executive officer of StarTimes Nigeria, explained that his company chose the football legend because of his fame and acceptance across Africa.

“Given Kanu’s successes in international football, his popularity is not limited to Nigeria alone but cuts across most countries in Africa. Kanu is an inspiration to everyone as his success represents a true Africa story; rising to success against all odds. He is a star the man next door can relate to” he said.

Nwankwo would be supported by another ex-international, Jonathan Akpoborie who was also appointed as sports programs strategist and celebrity guest analyst on live shows. Akpoborie will feature as technical sports analyst on various StarTimes live sports broadcast shows dishing out insightful analysis and commentaries.

Elated Papilo, as popularly called by fans, appreciated the digital cable network for considering him worthy of being the company's ambassador.

“I am very happy to support and promote the StarTimes brand as its ambassador in Africa. My goal is to see Africa fully migrated to digital television broadcasting by June 17, 2017 and I am glad to partner StarTimes in achieving this,” he stated.

The new brand Ambassador expressed delight to work with StarTimes in promoting the brand’s programmes in Nigeria and Africa in general.

According to him, the advent of StarTimes marked the clash in paytv charges in the country, bringing digital broadcasting to the masses, promising to bring more feathers on the cap of the network as it gears towards digital migration by 2017.

StarTimes currently holds the exclusive broadcast rights across Africa for Bundesliga, Serie A and League 1.

It currently broadcasts exclusively the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile showing from October 18 through November 8.

Jonathan Akpoborie while reading Nwankwo Kanu’s profile said the new StarTimes ambassador is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a striker.

Kanu was a member of and later captained the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010.

“He’s Africa’s most decorated footballer player, with a large collection of accolades from Premier Leagues across Europe and FIFA competition.

“Standing tall at 6’5, Kanu, a football striker chose football as a profession and began to play at that level as early as age fifteen.

“With Arsenal FC (England), he created a following of one of the biggest football fans followership in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

“He is also two times UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and works to help children in all circumstances”.

On his part, Mr. Maxwell Loko, director NTA-Star Tv Network, described Kanu as an inspiration to everyone as his success represents a true Africa story; rising to success against all odds.

Loko said, “He is a star the man nest door can relate to. Apart from being an ex-captain of the Super Eagles, he is the most highly-decorated African footballer, having won a UEFA Championed League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals and two African player of the year awards amongst others”.

He is the only English Premier League player to have won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and Olympic Gold Medal.