BancABC dangle carrot for DeMbare and Bosso

By Grace Chingoma

FINANCIAL institution BancABC have dangled a big carrot to giants Dynamos and Highlanders ahead of their Castle Lager Premiership showdown at Rufaro on Sunday, pledging to give the winner US$15 000.

BancABC Holdings are also the principal sponsors of Dynamos and Highlanders.They also bankroll police side Black Mambas. The Battle of Zimbabwe clash between DeMbare and Bosso is already a high stakes game with the bitter enemies involved in a close title race that has just two points separating them.

Yesterday, the bank — whose tournament BancABC Supr8 has disappeared from the top-flight football radar this season — sought to capitalise on the biggest league game of the season and announced a raft of incentives to “spice up’’ the match.

Apart from the US$15 000 winner takes all, the incentives also include US$5 000 for the team which will score in the opening five minutes. Another US$3 000 has been tabled for every goal that will be scored by either side. The player who will be voted man-of-the-match will also pocket US$1 500.

But the BancABC move is likely to stir fresh problems for the Premier Soccer League management amid indications that Delta Beverages who bankroll the league through their Castle Lager brand appear to have serious reservations over the deal.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele declined to comment and referred all questions to the league chairman Twine Phiri, who however, could not be reached for comment. The PSL representatives were also conspicuous by their absence from the function.

Although no comment was immediately available from the PSL, sources told The Herald last night the move was being viewed as an ambush marketing exercise given that jurisdiction for the 30 league games lies with the brewing giants.

“That Sunday’s game is also a potential championship decider means Castle Lager will want to use the grand occasion to maximise on mileage and bringing in another sponsor to direct the programme will cause friction with the prime sponsors.

“Dynamos might be the home team, but at the same time the event is not exclusively a Dynamos-BancABC event, it is clear that is a Castle Lager Premier League show,’’ the sources said.

BancABC managing director Hashmon Matemera insisted there was no ambush marketing by the sponsor, who also bankrolls the Sup8r tournament which was cancelled this year.

“We do not think we are trying to substitute for Sup8r. We are recognising it as a league match and we still believe it is a high profile match.

“We really want to support soccer and make the match more competitive. Highlanders and Dynamos are sponsored by BancABC and as the main sponsor it is important for BancABC to rally behind our teams, fans and PSL,” he said.

Matemera argued that they have always done this for matches which feature Black Mambas, adding that the Warumwa Warumwa assignments may have escaped attention because they “were low key’’.

“People call it the Battle of Zimbabwe Part Two and we thought we should actually try and do something for soccer and especially for Sunday so that it becomes a big family day.

“What we thought we should do is to make the day a very entertaining day and also a winning day for the fans and for all those who are involved in soccer.

“We are going to undertake a number of activities around the game, first of which is entertainment. We have lined up about four musical acts namely Iyasa, Sulumani Chimbetu, Winky D and Tedius Matsito.

“We are also doing things around the match. We are offering a winning prize for the match of US$15 000, it’s a winner takes all, there is no sharing in case of a draw. Whoever, wins will get US$15 000.

“To make the game exciting as well whichever team scores within five minutes will get US$5 000 if there are two goals all the teams will get US$5 000 each.

“For each goal we will pay the team US$3 000, if Dynamos score 20 goals and Highlanders score 20 goals they will get US$3 000 for each goal.

“The man of the match will get US$1 500. We are also going to have things around the fans, especially colourful fans who come well dressed — best dressed Super Fan, best Super Fan celebration moves win DStv decoders.

“Lucky fans will win 25 litres of fuel coupons and there would also be lots of team regalia giveaways. And for our teams, in addition to what we normally do, we will improve on their transport, camping and the teams will also play in new kits.

“The reason why we chose the match is they are two teams on top of the league, we think this might decide the league but also if you look at leagues the world over, this is coming at a good time for the Premiership.

“We would want it to be the match of the year and people should support the match,” Matemera said.

The BancABC managing director also took the opportunity to explain on their failure to stage the Sup8r this year and said the tournament should be back next year.

“There were various issues around the Sup8r and by the time we finished the discussions, the season was congested, we agreed to defer with other stakeholders.

“It was a mutual agreement. This year alone we have spent US$1,5 million on football. We are still discussing so that we have the tournament next year,” said Matemera.

Sunday’s programme at Rufaro will also be used to honour the soccer legends of the respective clubs who will play as curtain raisers with each former player set to get a US$100 appearance fee. Retired referees will be tasked with handling the legends game.

Highlanders’ representative Derick Ncube and Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa, also attended the Press briefing.

“We are grateful to our sponsor and since our aim is to win the league this is a good motivation,” said Mubaiwa.

Mubaiwa said they have pegged the gate charges at US$5 for the cheapest ticket while the other charges are US$10 and US$20. The Herald