Highlanders gets the BancABC sponsorship deal

PREMIERSHIP giants Highlanders and Dynamos last night sealed a sponsorship deal with BancABC, which will see the bank pouring US$100 000 into each team, as companies continued to show confidence in investing in the national game.

The deal was signed at a ceremony held at the bank's headquarters in Mount Pleasant, Harare, and the details of the deal matched the package.

Bosso and Dynamos have been struggling to attract sponsors and yesterday's deal will go a long way in helping the two giants as the partnership could be extended for the next two-and-a half years.

The two giants are the heart and soul of league football in the country and it has always been hard for a company to sponsor one of the clubs while ignoring the other.

It's the same situation in South Africa where a company sponsoring Kaizer Chiefs also ends up sealing a similar deal for Orlando Pirates.

There are always fears at companies that sponsoring one big team, while neglecting the other, might result in the other camp's fans turning against the sponsors and their products.

CAPS United, the third biggest team in the country, are reported to be on the verge of also sealing a similar deal.

The BanABC deal will cater for players' salaries for both clubs and provide the teams with jerseys, training kits, travelling bags, and golf shirts.

BancABC Bank managing director Hashmon Matemere said they realised that most teams are finding it difficult to get partners to help them and they decided to make the first step by sponsoring the two giants.

"Most teams are being funded by well-wishers and they are struggling to come up with sponsorship and we felt it was our social responsibility of giving back to the community.

"We will be providing the two teams with the player's salaries, training kits, travelling bags and golf shirts.

"The deal will be running for twoandhalf years.

"We expect Dynamos and Highlanders to play their part in promoting our values.

"We expect these teams to take soccer to another level and we want to see professionalism from the players and coaches and innovation from the administration.

"We felt it is an honour to play for Dynamos and Highlanders, as it is an honour to work for the bank that's why we decided to share the same vision and goal with these teams," said Matemere.

Matemere said they came up with a criteria whereby they looked at the oldest teams and they picked Dynamos and Highlanders.

"Thus we decided to take these brands into our vision with the goal of giving back to the community," added Matemere.

Highlanders' chairman Themba Ndhlela thanked the bank for the support and also said Bosso would never be the same again.

"We have been struggling and we hope the sponsorship will go a long way in reviving the club. BancABC have ensured that Highlanders will thrive.

"As Highlanders we call upon our supporters to support the bank," said Ndhlela.

Dynamos chairman Farai Munetsi thanked the bank for its support and predicted a bright future for the club.

"The deal has come at a time when the club is preparing for its silver jubilee celebrations in 2013 and I hope it's going to transform the club into a more professional side.

"The partnership will encourage us to do well and it's a morale boost for the team.

"We want to thank the BancABC and we will call on all our fans to support the bank," said Munetsi.

The Premier Soccer League was represented by its executive secretary Cuthbert Mtandwa.

BancABC have turned into one of the biggest sponsors of football in the country and they also sponsor the BancABC Sup8r Cup, whose draw will be held during halftime when Dynamos and CAPS United clash in the Harare Derby at the National Sports Stadium next Sunday.