In an unexpected turn of events, acclaimed American rapper 50 Cent has extended his patronage to the world of football in Cardiff, Wales. This move comes as a pleasant surprise for Welsh football, which recently experienced its share of Hollywood glitz when actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired Wrexham AFC in 2020.
The hip-hop titan will be sponsoring the under-14 girls’ team of Rumney AFC. The connection came to fruition when a parent of one of the players collaborated with 50 Cent during his tour. Richie Brown, who serves as the head of the girls’ section and as the coach for both the under-14s and under-17s girls’ teams at the Cardiff-based club, was instrumental in bringing this sponsorship to life.
Speaking to Sky News, Brown disclosed that he had initially anticipated a denial from 50 Cent. However, to his amazement, the rapper agreed to fund the team’s away kit. “You expect it to be a ‘no’ and then when he says ‘yes’, it’s a huge surprise and you’re massively grateful straight away,” Brown said.
Brown, who has been involved with girls’ football for nearly a decade, believes that having such a high-profile name associated with their team will elevate its stature exponentially. Following the initial agreement on the away kit sponsorship, 50 Cent also generously agreed to sponsor tracksuits for the team.
This recent development has sparked excitement within the community. Brown noted how Wrexham residents were thrilled when their local club was purchased by Reynolds and McElhenney. He anticipates that Rumney will also revel in this exhilaration stemming from their new high-profile sponsor.
Moreover, Brown is optimistic that this newfound spotlight on Rumney AFC can help enhance visibility for women’s football in South Wales. “Hopefully the girls’ and women’s sections down in South Wales will get a little bit of spotlight and we can raise the profile,” he added.