DYNAMOS and Caps United will headline the new $500 000 One Wallet Cup launched in Harare when they clash in yet another edition of the Harare Derby at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) and NetOne sealed a three-year renewable marriage yesterday that is certain to bring the thrills and spills again to the local game.
All the games will be televised live by the PSL broadcast partners SuperSport.
The two teams met at the weekend and shared the spoils at 1-1, but this Sunday, the second instalment has to produce a winner in this knockout tournament.
Next weekend, the two teams will meet in the third edition of the derby in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League at the same venue to complete a memorable “hattrick of derbies” for Harare football fans.
In the draw conducted in Harare yesterday, Highlanders, who were second last year, face off against How Mine at Ascot Stadium in Gweru in a match that will kick off at 1300hrs.
But the action kicks off in earnest tomorrow with a double header set for Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane when Harare City, who were third last season in the PSL, clash with Triangle United at 1300hrs.
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At 1500hrs, Mandava will witness the second match of the day when 2014 Independence Trophy and CG Msipa Charity Shield winners FC Platinum play host to Chicken Inn, who were winners of the NetOne Charity Shield last year.
Dynamos, Highlanders, Harare City and FC Platinum were seeded according to their final standings last year while Caps United, Triangle, How Mine and Chicken Inn then entered the draw against the top four.
Guest of honour, ICT, Postal and Courier Services minister Webster Shamu applauded NetOne for their gesture.
PSL vice-chairman Peter Dube said fair play will prevail at all their games and paid tributes to the mobile service provider.
“We are proud of this partnership because we share the same core values, the values to succeed are on top their business plan. Our relationship has been strengthened over many years since the Charity Shield in 2011 which had two teams, eventually and has now matured into eight teams.
“I am sure we will achieve maximum publicity and that the rules and regulations of the game will be observed. I can assure NetOne that the tournament will be hosted successfully,” Dube said.
NetOne managing director Reward Kangai, whose company also sponsored the women’s knockout tournament which ended two weeks ago, said they appreciated their relationship with football in the country.
“We have had a long standing relationship with the PSL and football in general starting with Caps United in 2006, we sponsored Zifa and the Warriors in their Afcon qualifiers, the Mighty Warriors and we were big sponsors when Brazil came here in 2010.
“And in 2011, we had the first edition of the Charity Shield which had two teams and we had four teams in the last two years and this time we have eight teams because we want to afford Zimbabweans a chance to enjoy the game. Fans will able to pay for their tickets using the One Wallet service which is an innovation and the first time for this to happen in Zimbabwe. And so for the next three years we will have this eight-team One Wallet Cup,” Kangai said.
NetOne’s marketing manager Memory Ndoro-Mandiya and public relations manager Rutendo Chaburuka were also part of the proceedings. The event was attended by all the clubs that qualified for the competition as per last season’s final standings with last year’s winners Shabanie Mine missing the cut after they finished in 11th position.
Shabanie Mine beat FC Platinum 5-3 on penalties in last years’ final and in the process walked away with $120 000 prize money. NetOne and BancABC also presented kits for the eight teams all immaculately branded with the One Wallet banner and the club’s respective sponsors.
The Dynamos and Highlanders are sponsored by BancABC, How Mine are funded by Metallon Gold Zimbabwe, Triangle by Tongaat Hullets, Chicken Inn by the fast foods chain while Harare City is bankrolled by the Harare City Council.
Shamu was grateful for the partnerships. “There is need for collaboration by the captains of industry and I also want to urge the media to be positive on their coverage. Yes, there were issues last time between Dynamos and BancABC and NetOne, but that is history now, we are moving forward and these are the kind of partnerships that make us a resilient people,” the minister said.
Other PSL partners that attended the event were their headline sponsors Delta Beverages represented by marketing manager Patricia Murambinda, BancABC, represented by head of communications Muriel Dowa and Sindie Ndlovu and Mbada Diamonds who were represented by senior corporate services officer Tafadzwa Chiremba.
ONE WALLET CUP DRAW
TOMORROW: Harare City vs Triangle United, 1300hrs, FC Platinum vs Chicken Inn 1500hrs, (both games at Mandava Stadium, Zvishavane) SATURDAY: Highlanders vs How Mine (Ascot Stadium, Gweru 1300hrs) SUNDAY: Dynamos vs Caps United (National Sports Stadium, 1500hrs) PRIZE MONEY WINNERS: $80 000 LOSING FINALISTS:$50 000 SEMI-FINALISTS (2): $30 000 QUATERFINALISTS (4): $20 000
