adminUnited and Highlanders being paired in the glamour quarter-final tie.
BancABC Group Chief Executive Douglas Munatsi launched this year’s tournament and revealed that, after all costs have been taken into account, his company will spend more than US$500 000 this year in the tourney.
BancABC have been the Premiership’s closest ally and stayed with the top-flight league at a time when the league had been abandoned by sponsors.
This year will mark the fourth straight year that BancABC, who are also sponsoring Dynamos and CAPS United, will be bankrolling the tournament.
Dynamos will meet Hwange while Gunners and Shabanie Mine clash in the other quarterfinal encounter.
Defending champions Motor Action were drawn against Monomotapa.
The 2011 sponsorship deal includes kit, accommodation, and individual player awards for man of the match, player of the tournament, top goal scorer and most disciplined team.
The quarter-finals will be played over two weekends starting on June 25 and 26.
The other matches will be staged on the weekend of July 9 and 10.
Munatsi said his company remained committed to helping local football and said he did not see any reason why, in the future, they should not sponsor all the 16 teams.
“We have a great challenge, as a football fraternity, to develop the game in this country and let’s work together in the development of the game,” said Munatsi.
“We believe we have a contribution to make as a Pan-African bank and as BancABC, we are willing to put more money in supporting football in this country.”
Munatsi said there was no reason why Zimbabwean football should not experience the good times that were rolling in Botswana football, with the Zebras qualifying for their maiden Nations Cup finals show.
The BancABC chief, who flew from his base in South Africa specifically for the function, said it was natural that his bank should invest in Zimbabwean football because that is where their business started.
Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri, in a speech read on his behalf by chief executive Kenny Ndebele, called on all the participating teams to value Fair Play.
There will be no replays in this year’s tournament and matches, deadlocked at the end of 90 minutes, will be decided by a penalty shootout.
Dynamos chairman Farai Munetsi said they were confident of retaining the trophy they won after they beat CAPS United 3-2 at the National Sports Stadium last year.
All but one club, Shabanie, were represented at yesterday’s function with Motor Action owner Eric Rosen and Highlanders boss Themba Ndlela saying they were also confident of winning the trophy.
There will be a lot of prizes for the fans, including bicycles, televisions and an 18-seater Toyota Hiace minibus.
Monomotapa chairman Joseph Mukoki said although his club respected the mighty Bulls, this was crunch time and said his club, which he claimed played the best football in the country, would prevail.
Motor Action vs Monomotapa
Dynamos vs Hwange
Highlanders vs CAPS United
Gunners vs Shabanie Mine
Online Reporter