Bosso thrown lifeline

Raymond Jaravaza
BANC ABC a�� the principal sponsors for Highlanders Football Club for the last five years a�� have thrown the Bulawayo giants a lifeline with indications that the financial services provider has extended its sponsorship deal.

The deal is believed to be a six-month extension worth $200 000.

There have been fears that the pan African financial services provider would not renew its sponsorship deals with two of Zimbabwea��s football giants Highlanders and Dynamos when the five-year deals struck in 2011 expires on 31 December.

Negotiations to renew the sponsorship deals with the two clubs have been ongoing for the last few months although the details have been kept under wraps for fear of jeopardising talks between the concerned parties.

But B-Metro Sport has in good authority from an informed source that Banc ABC have agreed to extend the sponsorship deal by six months.

The deal, just as in the case with the one set to expire on the last of the year, will see the financial services provider paying salaries for Highlandersa�� players and members of the technical team.

a�?Ita��s still a sensitive issue because both the club and Banc ABC have not released official statements to announce the new sponsorship deal. Ita��s a short-term deal but at least the club has been thrown a lifeline,a�? said our source.

In his last weekly Press Conference before leaving for his home country in the Netherlands, Bosso coach Erol Akbay indicated that his return to the club next year will be determined by Bossoa��s ability to pay his salary.

a�?Someone asked me if I know that the cluba��s sponsorship is coming to an end and I said yes. He went on to ask if Ia��ll return if my salary is not paid and I asked him if he will go to work without being paid and he said no. Ita��s far from home to come here for nothing,a�? said Akbay at the time.

Highlanders acting chairman Modern Ngwenya did not deny or confirm the new deal only stating that the club executive was working hard to bring a sponsor to the club for the 2017 season.

a�?Sponsorship negotiations are always a delicate issue which should be treated with extreme caution as divulging information before official statements are released can sometimes cause problems.

a�?We are working to bring a sponsor on board for next season,a�? said Ngwenya. .