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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Acting Sports Editor
HIGHLANDERS Football Club principal sponsors BancABC are renewing their sponsorship of the Bulawayo giants.
“We are definitely renewing the contract, all is in order in terms of negotiations,” said a senior executive at the bank.The Bulawayo giants’ two year marriage with the financial institution ends at the end of this month and a majority of their fans have been eager to know whether there will be any extension or not.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport on condition of anonymity last night, the senior executive at the financial institution allayed fears of a pull out, saying that negotiations were almost complete with the two parties just tying up a few loose ends.
“We are definitely renewing the two contracts,” the executive said referring to the two deals with Bosso and Dynamos.
He added: “It’s just a matter of time really. As a bank we are happy with the way things have been going especially at Highlanders. It’s always easy to deal with them because all they do is above board”.
The official, while not giving exact figures, said the new deal was likely to see the bank increasing the package for Highlanders.
It is believed that Highlanders have been negotiating to get about $100 000 on player acquisitions and signing on fees, an indication that the Bulawayo giants mean business next year after losing the league title on two consecutive seasons by goal difference to bitter rivals Dynamos.
“Officially, our deal with Highlanders and Dynamos was worth $360 000 each but on the ground we have spent close to $700 000 on each club. So in our negotiations we are also taking into account the prevailing economic conditions that these clubs operate in and I can safely say that the new deal will be around that figure, it’s going to be massive,” said the official.
Chronicle Sport also understands that the new deal would see Highlanders’ juniors from the Under-14 to the developmental side being kitted by BancABC unlike the prevailing position where juniors play wearing oversized and old seniors’ kits.
The bank will also revamp the club house, resuscitate the borehole to water the three fields at the club house so that in the long run they will be used as training fields, saving the club a lot of money on ground rentals elsewhere.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube earlier this week said negotiations with the bank were ongoing and promising. Highlanders this week employed a kit manager Vezigama Dlodlo who the chairman said would look after the team’s wardrobe.
During an interview with our sister paper B-Metro a few months back, Highlanders treasurer, Jerry Sibanda said an unnamed sponsor had shown interest in laying an artificial turf at one of the three club house grounds.
Online Reporter