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Under the deal, each club got replica jerseys for their five local fans while the teams also received their kits and causal wear.
Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said their partnership with Adidas would unlock the real value in the club that had been like a sleeping giant.
He urged the club’s fans to shun fake replica jerseys and said the first consignment could be sold at their Premiership game against Black Rhinos at Rufaro on Saturday.
Interestingly, the game will also be beamed live on the SuperSport channel.
“We hope the partnership with Adidas will unlock the real value that our club has.
“From the sale of the jerseys, we will get a percentage into our coffers and we know this is not going to be easy, but we are determined,” said Mubaiwa.
BancABC managing director Hashman Matemera said they started negotiations with Adidas last year and had hoped that the kits would be delivered before the start of the season.
“Three years ago we started the journey of sponsoring Highlanders and Dynamos and one thing we worried was on our reputation at that time because all sponsors were concerned by associating themselves with the game that destroyed reputation.
“We were quite aware that it was going to be a bumpy road.
“We knew we were going to encounter turbulences, but we still believed in our vision and dream that one day we will get Dynamos and Highlanders at par with regional competitors like the top teams in South Africa.
“One of the things which impressed us is the seriousness these teams have with the sponsorship that we have with them,” said Matemera.
Matemera said they hoped to seal the deal before the start of the season, but it was not possible.
“Our aim had been to get the kits before the start of the season, but because of negotiations and logistics, it was not possible since the productions at Adidas had already started.
“We will be announcing when the next consignments for the supporters will come’’.
Matemera also used the function to reveal that the BancABC Sup8r Tournament would be back on the top-flight football radar this season.
“The Sup8r Tournament is coming back and we should be launching it in July and this should be the biggest ever,” said Matemera.
But under the Adidas kit deal, both Dynamos and Highlanders will get seven percent from the sale of the replicas jerseys that will be sold to fans.
It means an approved retailer will get the merchandise from Adidas in South Africa and the clubs will get the small percentage as their own profit.
The merchandise will be sold at the team’s home matches and at approved outlets. The sealing of the deal by Adidas and the country’s two biggest clubs marked the first time that the global sportswear giants would be bringing jerseys specifically designed for the Zimbabwean market.
DeMbare will be kitted with their famous blue and white while Bosso will don their black and white and Adidas also included the latest sports technologies like ClimaCool, which allows athletes to stay cool, dry and comfortable while performing at the highest level.
Adidas sports marketing team manager for South Africa, Adrian De Souza said they were keen on opening a market in Zimbabwe for their products.
“As we try to spread our market into Africa, in Zimbabwe we have identified Dynamos and Highlanders two of the biggest clubs and along with BancABC we hope to bring the clubs to world class standards.
“The process is not easy but we are proud to announce the new kits, home and away that will be used by the teams,” said De Souza.
“The company is excited to partner with such strong Zimbabwean football brands with passionate fan bases,” he said.
Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha said they would consider opening up a sports shop and buying the replicas directly from Adidas.
“I think we should try to buy directly from Adidas so that we get the seven percent entitled to us as well as the profits for the selling.
“We hope all will be well on the deal,” said Chikengezha.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube said, “The sponsorship has made Highlanders a part of history and partnering Adidas will allow them to be among the best in the world.”
Dube said Highlanders had for long time nothing to sale to their fans who are very passionate about the game and he also called for an end to hooliganism at matches.
Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Lazarus Dokora, who was the guest of honour, said the deal was refreshing for local sports as it recognises the grassroots where the fans will be able to purchase the kits.
Dokora said the partnership between BancABC and the two clubs has brought stability to the teams over the last three years and he said doors for technical partnership with corporate entities should be opened for other teams.
Online Reporter