BANCABC — the sponsors of Castle Lager Premiership football giants Dynamos and Highlanders — say they are not opposed to multiple sponsorship of any club in the league as long as contractual obligations are met. REPORT BY WELLINGTON TONI SPORTS EDITOR
The bank is also the sponsor of a third Premiership side Black Mambas.
Caught in the eye of a storm last year when Dynamos refused to wear branded NetOne jerseys for the Charity Shield and with another storm already brewing ahead of this year’s edition, the banking group has moved swiftly to state their missions in the game — to develop it.
Dynamos and Highlanders, who will be major beneficiaries of an imminent technical supply deal with Adidas, are likely to be voted for by fans for this year’s new-look edition that will feature four teams instead of the traditional two.
Dynamos, who will be playing in the Caf Champions League this year, will also have to reach a quick agreement on kit branding with Mbada Diamonds if they decide to take up the offer of $150 000 as winners of last year’s cup final.
Cynthia Chizwina, the BancABC head of marketing, said yesterday in an interview: “We have never closed out any sponsor. We need as many multiple sponsors as possible in the game as long as contractual obligations are respected.
“We try to do this through best international practice and governance. And this means we ensure there are no issues of conflict of interest.
“There are 16 teams in the Premier Soccer League and us sponsoring only three is not enough. We want every team to be sponsored and multiple sponsors for that.
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“Our mission is to develop football in Zimbabwe and we want as many corporates to come into the game and help us develop it, but what we are asking for is order,” Chizwina said.
The bank pays salaries of players and technical staff, provides training and match day kits, tracksuits and other regalia for the three clubs. They are also close to sealing a deal with Adidas that will help provide merchandise for the clubs, which Chizwina has described as “a structured approach to replicas”.
BancABC signed three-year deals with Zimbabwe’s football giants in 2011.
The bank, with interests in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, is also the sponsor of the BancABC Sup8r which is expected to return this year after a clash of dates prevented the 2012 edition from taking place.
They, however, paid each of the eight clubs that had qualified $15 000.
Savanna Tobacco, involved with Highlanders and Dynamos in the transporting of fans to football matches last year, faced resistance after their approach to the deal tampered with the existing deals with the two teams.
A confidant in the BancABC sponsorship deals said: “Sponsors don’t own clubs, but what they are saying is a proper value must be attached to a big club like Dynamos or Highlanders. If someone is forking out between $350 000 and $400 000, and then someone comes around with just $20 000 demanding the same privileges, that is not fair value to the club.”
