German kit maker, PUMA, has announced an endorsement deal with Orlando Pirates skipper and South Africa star, Oupa Manyisa. Manyisa is understood to have signed a deal with PUMA which will run beyond 2017.

The move could signal intent from PUMA to become more involved with personal endorsement deals for stars based on the African continent similar to deals it currently has with global stars Manchester City and Argentina forward Sergio Aguero and on loan Manchester United and Colombia star, Falcao. Manyisa has enjoyed an impressive run of form recently as he was named Orlando Pirates Player of the Year last season.

Speaking after the announcement of the deal, Manyisa described the association with PUMA as an honour.

“I’m excited to join PUMA,” he said. “It’s an honour to be in the same stable with big stars such as Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero. The vision they have on a local front is also very refreshing and exciting. I hope our relationship will go beyond football. I am finally Forever Faster.”

Joining the flock

Manyisa becomes the latest African star with personal PUMA deal following the steps of fellow South Africans Steven Pienaar, Tokelo Rantie as well as Ivorian, Yaya Toure. Like these star names, the deal see Manyisa supplied with PUMA performance and lifestyle gear and will also see the midfielder play in PUMA’s evoSPEED boot.

Brett Bellinger, PUMA’s South African Marketing Director made a statement on behalf of the company revealing that PUMA was excited to have Manyisa on board.

“PUMA is excited to be welcoming Oupa to the PUMA Football family. As both a Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates player he has certainly showed his playmaking ability and his recent  appointment as Orlando Pirates captain has shown his ability to lead and step into a position in a difficult time for the team,” said Bellinger.

PUMA will see their latest star in action as Oupa Manyisa lines up for Bafana Bafana at the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea kicking off on January 17.