VIVA Bahrain and Manchester United have signed a partnership agreement that will enable the telecom company's customers to benefit from a host of exclusive services.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Royal Golf Club in Riffa today (June 3), was attended by Sir Bobby Charlton, former Manchester United player and legend, and a number of senior officials from both sides.

Alongside the signing, professional coaches from the club ran a football skills mini- workshop for 33 selected VIVA subscribes.

The agreement aims at enhancing and refining the skills of young football enthusiasts in Bahrain and developing local sports by bringing in international expertise, and offering new and exceptional benefits to its customers.

Through VIVA, Manchester United fans can stay in touch with the club via a constant feed of the club’s latest news and mobile content such as wallpapers, ringtones, picture messages and video highlights. In addition, they can win valuable memorabilia signed by Manchester United stars.

VIVA subscribers will also have the chance to win tickets to watch the team's matches and experience the joy of cheering on the team alongside its fans at Old Trafford.

“I am proud to announce our partnership with this prestigious football club,” said VIVA CEO Ibrahim Al Omar. “Throughout its glorious 132-year history, Manchester United established itself as one of the world's most successful football clubs and inspired fans and football lovers worldwide.

'This partnership between VIVA and Manchester United delivers on our promise to offer our customers the best and most innovative services and products,' he added.

Manchester United commercial director Richard Arnold said he was extremely pleased that VIVA and its customers have joined the club's family of partners, saying: 'The enormous popularity Manchester United enjoys in the Middle East made me feel as if I am at my second home.'

“The mobile phone industry sits on the cutting edge of technological development,” said Arnold. “VIVA has some truly innovative ideas for communication with the fans of the club, providing an exclusive collection of Manchester United-related contents directly to VIVA subscribers.”

Arnold said Manchester United fans around the world are estimated at 333 million, 14 million of whom are in the Middle East. This, he said, encouraged the club to launch an Arabic version of its official website manutd.com, which currently receives more than half a million unique visitors per month.

Sir Bobby Charlton expressed his delight in the signing of the partnership with VIVA Bahrain, noting the 'great successes the company made over a short period of time.'

'We are proud of the partnership with VIVA Bahrain and glad to be here in the kingdom to help youth in Bahrain develop their football skills and support local sports,' he said. –TradeArabia News Service