THE newly-formed Mount Gambier Pioneers women have signed a naming-rights sponsor, as OneFortyOne comes on board in preparation of the 2019 Adelaide Premier League season.
With just six weeks to finalise the team before the competition’s start on March 2, the support comes as a welcome relief.
The Pioneers found a lifeline in the Premier League after the disbandment of the South East Australian Basketball League late last year, but faced the challenging task of forming a women’s side on short notice.
However, the commitment of OneFortyOne to the cause has helped lift some of the financial burden, as the club pieces together an elite women’s team, under the coaching of former Pioneers captain and 200-gamer Matt Sutton.
The organisation has worked with the Pioneers before and general manager at the OneFortyOne sawmill Paul Hartung has been an advocate for the club, committing as a platinum partner for the men’s round 12 game in the 2018 SEABL season.
“We had fantastic support from OneFortyOne last year as a platinum sponsor and they have indicated their interest to continue that support,” Mount Gambier Pioneers president Tom Kosch said.
Kosch said the two organisations – both the Pioneers and OneFortyOne – share similar values and both wish to give back to the Mount Gambier community wherever possible, with this partnership to help towards achieving the goal.
“It is a great opportunity for OneFortyOne and a great opportunity for the Pioneers,” Kosch said.
“We know that OneFortyOne is a leading business in our region and we share the same values of excellence and commitment to our community.
“On behalf of the club I would like to thank Paul Hartung and CEO Linda Sewell for their generous support of our basketball club and we look forward to an ongoing relationship.”
Hartung also voiced his pleasure in the partnership and said both organisations look forward to what the future holds.
“We are delighted to join the Pioneers (women’s) family in their inaugural season,” he said.
“This is the start of a new and exciting chapter for one of the most well-respected sporting organisations in our region.
“We look forward to working with the Pioneers in engaging with schools and community events, as well as to an exciting year ahead.”
It was the connections of a board member which saw the initial sponsorship last year and Kosch said since then the relationship has continued to flourish.
Sutton said it has been a challenge to draw in players and get them up to the standard required for the Premier League competition on such short notice.
“It is an uphill battle, but one I know the board and the coaching staff are ready for,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can and support like this is amazing, it goes a long way.
“We are taking it on and we have a few girls who are really ready to step up.”
Despite the circumstances which introduced the introduction of a women’s team, both Sutton and Kosch look forward to the season ahead and the opportunity it brings for players both within the Blue Lake City and out of town.
“We are really excited about it,” Kosch said.
“We would like to put the last five months behind us and are genuinely excited about offering an elite competition for women locally, as well as an opportunity for people outside of Mount Gambier to come into town and be part of our program.
“We have been highly successful in SEABL for the last seven or eight seasons and are really committed to making sure we can put together a competitive women’s product as well.”
The partnership with OneFortyOne is a major step in ensuring the success of the team and it comes at a good time as the club deals with the strain of recent events.
“Obviously the commitment of putting together a women’s team is another program that comes at an operating cost which we were not prepared for,” Kosch said.
“OneFortyOne’s commitment to us is something we are ecstatic about and we are extremely thankful for.”
The opening round of the Premier League season will see a double-header road trip to Adelaide for the Pioneers men and women, with a game each on both March 2 and 3.
