THE 2013 edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup has been bigger and better. So far, the experience has been exhilarating.
BY GEORGE MANYAYA MBADA DIAMONDS CORPORATE SERVICES EXECUTIVE
The standard of the football and competition has improved immensely. The dollar-per-match dispensation has brought back fans to the matches. Families can now afford to come and enjoy football.
Our endeavour is to give everyone an opportunity to watch and experience top flight football.
We believe we are harnessing diamonds for the people by uplifting communities through the development of sport.
The response from the fans has been euphoric and the deafening frenzy in the stadiums is an endorsement by the owners of the game in support of the reduced gate charges.
As we said at the inaugural launch of this cup, our endeavour was to take the tournament to all corners of the country.
We are excited about hosting the final in Bulawayo, the City of Kings.
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It has taken three years but at long last the City of Kings will have its first Bulawayo showdown in the final of the country’s premiere knock-out tournament.
There is no doubt the fans are looking forward to this. We promise a memorable final and all the homework has been done.
The fans should come out in their numbers to witness this historic final.
Mbada Diamonds Cup games have always been peaceful and attracted families.
We hope fans will continue to be good ambassadors of peace and respect whatever result. At the end it is football that would have benefited.
There was utmost synergy from all angles be it Premier Soccer League, media and all stakeholders. The partnership with PSL has been successful.
We have learnt a lot during the past three years and it is my humble opinion that where teamwork is present mountains are conquerable.
The level of discipline shown by the 16 teams throughout the tournament epitomizes how PSL have inculcated professionalism and I believe Zimbabwean football league and cup tournaments can be categorised among the best run in Africa.
The support from the media has been tremendous.
The three tenets in the media fraternity are to inform, educate and entertain and if I was to evaluate this as with regards to the Mbada Cup I would give them a 110% mark.
They have taken the tournament to every corner. They have been instrumental in advising us where we might have been heading in the wrong direction and such constructive criticism is healthy especially in life transforming endeavours where the voice of the voiceless mirrors societal expectations.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup is just but a tiny drop of our extensive corporate social responsibility initiatives.
We are harnessing diamonds for the people and we have tried to touch all sectors. We are an all-round corporate, we take our business operations seriously and we also take our capability of positively impacting every individual in our environment seriously.
We make financial contributions to programmes that are of national importance.
For example, the 20th session of the UNWTO General Assembly which has had a positive impact on Zimbabwean tourism. We undertake national health initiatives to ensure to Zimbabweans have access to adequate medical facilities.
In our four years of existence, the corporate has constructed state of the art houses for relocated families in Arda Transau. Construction and rehabilitation of community schools and roads has been undertaken.
The corporate has also worked towards the provision of clean water to the Arda, Chiadzwa and Marange areas.
Investment has been made in education through a scholarships for high performing students from less privileged backgrounds.
The corporate carries out food and farming input distribution exercises as well as school-based supplementary feeding for the Arda, Chiadzwa and Marange areas. Continuous support is also provided for programmes aimed at alleviating environmental degradation.
In only four years how have we managed all this? Just like any other every life transforming endeavour, it starts with a visionary.
Our dear Chairman, Robert Mhlanga, has always challenged us to ideas that uplift our nation. His patriotism and visionary leadership has driven us to where we are today.
The team work and enthusiasm exhibited by the Mbada family has been exceptional.
All stakeholders have played a pivotal role and the support has been overwhelming.
Final word: Thank you for the support, enjoy football. May the gracious Lord be with you all in attaining all your desires. Long live Zimbabwe, long live Zimbabwean football, and long live our resources.
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
