adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
THE Bulawayo Amateur Football Association has renewed its partnership with retail clothing giant Edgars in a move that will see the league’s winner receiving prizes. Bafa chairman Chris Mtungwazi said they signed another one-year deal that will see the league’s winners walk away with medals for the whole team and individual trophies. He
said they are also negotiating for the champions to receive financial rewards and it was his hope the discussions would bear fruit.
“We are pleased Edgars saw it fit to renew the sponsorship and ensure we have a branded league but we will continue engaging them over the course of the season with the hope of securing financial sponsorship,” said Mtungwazi.
He said they are busy carrying out the registration process in preparation for the season which is expected to kick-off on 2 April. The league will be retaining 16 teams they had last year after the championship winner Madamara failed to take up the promotional slot in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Three due to financial constraints. Mtungwazi said although there is a team that had expressed interest in taking up the slot, they were yet to confirm.
The league was offered a promotional slot by the Zifa provincial executive last year to make the title race more rewarding but financial impediments are standing in the way of the Bafa teams. Mtungwazi said they would be hosting the traditional Townshed and Butcher Trophy and they are negotiating with sponsors to fund two other knockout competitions. Hotspurs won the Townshed and Butcher competition last year while Rebels were second placed.
derick.khumalo