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NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Adidas deal for DeMbare, Bosso

Sport
Highlanders, Dynamos and Black Mambas have sealed their Adidas merchandise and replica jerseys deal and a Cape Town-based company is expected to be the supplier. The deal is for the three Premier Soccer League teams, who are all bankrolled by BancABC as part of their three-year sponsorship agreements. The latest developments were revealed by Highlanders […]

Highlanders, Dynamos and Black Mambas have sealed their Adidas merchandise and replica jerseys deal and a Cape Town-based company is expected to be the supplier.

The deal is for the three Premier Soccer League teams, who are all bankrolled by BancABC as part of their three-year sponsorship agreements.

The latest developments were revealed by Highlanders chairman Peter Dube during their mid-year meeting at the weekend in Bulawayo.

“The Adidas deal with a Cape Town company is almost finalised. The agreements have been signed, what is now left is for us to find out what the people want,” he said.

“Most of the merchandise that you see on the street is not from Highlanders. We do not benefit from it.

“It does not help that we stop these people from selling their wares yet the club is failing to provide their supporters with quality replicas.”

Dube said at some point they had called on the police to arrest people who were selling fake Highlanders merchandise but realised there was a need from the supporters.

He said Highlanders wanted the Adidas deal to be done professionally so that the clubs would get original merchandise.

“People are going to get proper and original merchandise and all they need to do is exercise patience as the deal is almost complete,” he said.

Cynthia Chizwina, the BancABC marketing manager, was not immediately available for comment yesterday on the deal despite earlier promises that she would respond to this newspaper.

It is understood though that BancABC is keen to see Highlanders and Dynamos open sports shops to sell their regalia.

Last month, the two teams met with representatives of Adidas separately in the country in a bid to speed up the deal.

BancABC have three-year deals with the clubs signed last year and all don Adidas jerseys. The bank also pays players’ and the technical team’s salaries and early this year unveiled a $165 000 sponsorship for Dynamos for the African Safari.

Dynamos were, however, knocked out of the Caf Champions League and subsequently the Caf Confederations Cup last weekend.

Highlanders and Dynamos — the two biggest franchises and most successful clubs in Zimbabwe — have failed to realise value in their brands mainly because of poor marketing strategies and failure to go into partnerships.

Both have been overtaken by Caps United who are close to sealing a deal with world-renowned kit manufacturer Umbro, while FC Platinum — only two years old in the top flight — have even raised the bar higher in replica sales.