Motor Action, Zimbabwes representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup football tourney, leave the country on a high this morning after a getting a $150 000 sponsorship package from Mbada Diamonds Holdings.
The Mighty Bulls depart for South Africa this morning where they will face Black Leopards in the preliminary round, first leg clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Mbadas sponsorship is premised on a pledge they made last year to foot the entire bill of the team that will represent Zimbabwe in the Confederation Cup.
The Bulls lost 1-0 to Dynamos in the Mbada Diamonds Cup final, but the league champions opted for the more lucrative Champions League, leaving Motor Action to benefit.
So it was all smiles yesterday as Mbada also paid up an additional $50 000 for player bonuses with each player getting $300 for a win and $100 for a draw.
The company also provided a training kit, playing kit, suits embroidered with the Mbada logo and will pay for accommodation and airfares. The deal also includes leisure wear, warm-up kit, physiotherapist kit, medical aid kit and 30 balls.
George Manyaya, the Mbada competitions organising committee communications and public affairs officer, said at yesterdays colourful event: Our message as Mbada Diamonds is that we are harnessing diamonds for the people and Motor Action must repay this by winning the tournament for the people.
You are the ambassadors of Zimbabwe and our hopes are with you. Fly high for the sake of professionalism.
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Motor Action chief of protocol Simeon Jamanda said in paying tribute to the sponsors: Our promise to the sponsor as Motor Action is that we will not disappoint you; we will win the trophy for the sake of the nation.
You have afforded us a second opportunity to do better and we are determined to bring the trophy to Zimbabwe.
It was a painful start for the Mighty Bulls last season as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast at the first hurdle.
Coach Joey Antipas will travel with 18 players after having managed to secure Isaac Madziva and Protasho Kabwe, who spent the 2011 season at Northern Region Division One side Highfield United.
Veteran goalkeeper Marlon Jani will skipper the side which does not have defender Edward Tembo for this tie, but have the experienced Tongai Mangwendere, Godfrey Moyo, Passmore Bernard, Gift Phiri and James Jam, who was acquired from Blue Ribbon.
Black Leopards have three Zimbabweans in their team technical member Sunday Chidzambwa and players Zvenyika Makonese and Kingstone Nkatha and have vowed to blow away the Mighty Bulls.
Squad Marlon Jani, Ronald Mudimu, Passmore Bernard, Morris Kadzola, Rueben Mhlanga, Charles Mutero, Godfrey Moyo, Jonathan Chitereki, Dominic Mukandi, James Jam, Thembani Masuku, Ngonidzashe Maviri, Protasho Kabwe, Masimba Mambare, Gift Phiri, Isaac Madziva, Tongai Mangwendere, Enasio Perezo
