Visit South Africa: Manchester United Sends SA Tourism Shirt After Tottenham Hotspur Debacle

• A very interesting development in the storm over SA Tourism's proposed sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur has occurred
• While the deal continues to cause a storm among many South Africans, Manchester United has entered the fray
• The club has sent a 'VISIT SOUTH AFRICA' branded Red Devils jersey to under-fire SA Tourism Themba Khumalo

Here is something unexpected: Manchester United signalled its intentions regarding SA Tourism's agenda.

The club has sent an 'away' Red Devils jersey with 'VISIT SOUTH AFRICA' to acting CEO Themba Khumalo, with his surname as well as the famous '7' of the club.

A verified video is doing the rounds on social media of an excited Khumalo opening a package sent from the club to the agency's offices in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Khumalo says in the video:

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"I promise you that we did not stage this. I have just received another proposal from Manchester United... as you can see... 'VISIT SOUTH AFRICA'. We have just unboxed it.

Why is Manchester United, with 1.1 billion followers, sending us a proposal? I think somebody out there doesn't understand that it is not about the team. We convert [one per cent of these followers] that is 11 million incremental visitors to the destination."

Conflict of Interest SA Tourism-Spurs deal

To no one surprise, there is already the smell of dodginess surrounding SA Tourism's proposed deal to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur.

The South African government's marketing agency wants to become the club's shirtsleeve sponsor.

There appears to be a conflict of interest involving the agency's chief financial officer Johan van der Walt.

SA government blasted Spurs sponsorship

South Africa's government would do best to read the room.

SA government looks to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur in deal similar to Rwanda and Arsenal

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The administration's proposed move to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur under its marketing arm has been interpreted as being tone deaf considering the problems the country is going throw.

Overwhelmingly, if social media is to be believed, this has proven to be an unpopular proposal considering the problems that the country is going through.

SA government to sponsor Spurs

Should the South African government get its way, its name will appear on Tottenham Hotspur's kit.

An exclusive report by the Daily Maverick has revealed that the administration's market agency, SA Tourism is seeking to become one of the North London outfit's title sponsors.

It is similar to the talked-about deal between the 'Visit Rwanda' campaign by that country's government and Spurs' arch-rivals Arsenal.