Sports / Soccer
Zimbabwe diamond company unveils a US$1 million soccer tournament
01 Sep 2011 at 03:43hrs | Views
Zimbabwe football broke new ground last night when major diamonds mining firm Mbada Diamonds unveiled a $1 million knockout tournament for the Premier Soccer League.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup was unveiled at a function in Harare last night with the tournament easily becoming the biggest knockout competition in the history of the local game. Another event to officially launch the tournament will be staged on September 16 where a draw will also be conducted. But PSL chairman Twine Phiri, his leadership and the clubs will no doubt be basking in the glory of securing another major corporate partner for the game following the coming on board at the start of the season of Castle Lager, who are bankrolling the championship.
The league has also managed to retain the BancABC Sup8r tournament, which until the arrival of Mbada has been the only major knockout competition of the top-flight teams.
But with the Mbada Diamonds Cup, which guarantees its winners $75 000, victory in the competition will also ensure a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup. Mbada media consultant Ignatius Mazura also told guests at the function that his company would give a $150 000 subsidy to the winners to help meet the costs of participating in the Confederation Cup.
The Mbada consultant said the miners also acknowledged the power of football to break social barriers and unite people of diverse backgrounds.
Mazura also remained hopeful that the PSL and its member clubs would maintain high levels of professionalism during the new tournament.
Sport is a past time for virtually everyone either as players or spectators and the role of football as a unifying force cannot be emphasised.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele in thanking Mbada Diamonds for agreeing to come on board the top-flight football's ship pledged that the league and its clubs will give the sponsors full value for their money.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup was unveiled at a function in Harare last night with the tournament easily becoming the biggest knockout competition in the history of the local game. Another event to officially launch the tournament will be staged on September 16 where a draw will also be conducted. But PSL chairman Twine Phiri, his leadership and the clubs will no doubt be basking in the glory of securing another major corporate partner for the game following the coming on board at the start of the season of Castle Lager, who are bankrolling the championship.
The league has also managed to retain the BancABC Sup8r tournament, which until the arrival of Mbada has been the only major knockout competition of the top-flight teams.
But with the Mbada Diamonds Cup, which guarantees its winners $75 000, victory in the competition will also ensure a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup. Mbada media consultant Ignatius Mazura also told guests at the function that his company would give a $150 000 subsidy to the winners to help meet the costs of participating in the Confederation Cup.
Mazura also remained hopeful that the PSL and its member clubs would maintain high levels of professionalism during the new tournament.
Sport is a past time for virtually everyone either as players or spectators and the role of football as a unifying force cannot be emphasised.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele in thanking Mbada Diamonds for agreeing to come on board the top-flight football's ship pledged that the league and its clubs will give the sponsors full value for their money.
Source - Byo24News
