Article Published: 15 October 2009
Article by Orrie Zubair

RECESSION! RECESSION! RECESSION!

When knocking on any businessman’s door, for help to improve the sport of pigeon racing in the under privilege area, they will scream RECESSION. Guess what? It is only a businessman that is short sighted that will use such an excuse in the light of not having to fork out a few rands for the betterment of a very popular sport called pigeon racing. In fact in most cases these businesses are supported by these very dedicated fanciers ... PENNY WISE POUND FOOLISH.

In most case when approaching businesses even before the recession they would give you the run around and now the new word is "recession". Fair enough there are genuine businesses that will extend a helping hand to the under privileged communities but prefer to sponsor a more well known venture than just a few people part taking in a ever so decreasing sport such as pigeon racing. That is why exposing the public to the sport of pigeon racing, is of paramount importance, so that attracting more businesses to sponsor our sport. After all the businesses want to know what their return on investment will be and without any good exposure very little donations will be received. Can one really blame them for thinking like that!

That is why it is so important that we use technology and the media to our benefit so that we can take the sport to the people. The more people become aware about pigeon racing the more and quicker the sport of pigeon racing will grow.

After approaching a few businessmen for any form of sponsorship, only one such businessman gave a positive answer. In fact this person was very warming in his approach to help that his very words were,” Just say want you want and I will help where I can”. Being the type of person that he is (definitely a great character inherited from his late father Piet Stassen – bless his soul) I made a suggestion and he did not hesitate to accept to assist. For every race that the NSHU (Northern Suburb Homing Union) had on there racing program, Kurt Stassen of Panorama Pet Shop, gave a 25kg bag of seed to the winning fancier.

To encourage camaraderie amongst the members in the NSHU (80 members strong) we had each fancier nominate at least 1 birds @ R5 per birds and the fancier that timed the first nomination won the bag of pigeon seed (racing or breeders). We also requested that all members support Panorama Pet shop by purchasing there monthly pigeon feed and medication from this store so that Mr Kurt Stassen can see his return on investment paying dividends. Who knows maybe next season we could receive a similar sponsorship from Panorama Pet shop and other businesses.

NSHU would like to extend a further warm sense of gratitude to Mr Kurt Stassen for bringing down the cost of pigeon feed twice during this past racing season even thou fuel cost are always increasing. We as pigeon fanciers should keep supporting the businesses that support the pigeon fraternity.

A full income received from this sponsorship will be made available along with the respective winners of every race as soon as audits are completed. The profits will be used to cover expenses incurred by the Union to ensure that the Union membership fees are kept at a minimum. Lastly NSHU would also like to thank all members and congratulate all winners for supporting Panorama Pet shop.

Yours truly in sport
Zubair Orrie