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Delta Beverages, through their Castle Lager brand, unveiled a three-year $600 000 sponsorship package for the elite league last year which included prize money in addition to the various individual prizes for players like the monthly Player and Goalkeeper of the month award as well as end of year awards.
League winners, Dynamos, who pipped Bulawayo giants Highlanders to the throne by virtue of a superior goal difference, will pocket a cool $70 000 while Bosso are guaranteed $50 000 as runners up.
Some clubs though have been silently calling for a review of the prize money upwards, citing exorbitant costs in preparing for the matches, with some arguing that their yearly budgets made a mockery of the prize money. Clubs will receive their prize money during the 14 December Stars awards night in the capital.
“We are going to review our relationship with the PSL next year when we take stock of the past two years and then see the way forward. At the moment we have not met on the issue but I must confess that we are generally happy with the way things have been going on so far,” said Delta Beverages marketing manager Patricia Murambinda during a side interview at the recently held Soccer Stars of the Year finalists selection process in the capital.
She said the last two seasons have gone according to their expectations and the company was happy with the level of competition exhibited by the clubs.
The season went on smoothly with very few fixture disturbances and the end of season deadline was met.
“Even the quality of the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year finalists actually captures the competition in the league. The selected players really deserved to be part of the best 11 players in the country,” said the marketing manager.
The confidence vote by the sponsors in the Twine Phiri led management league has raised hopes that the giant beverages manufacturer might up their total package, with the biggest chunk going to the prize money for clubs.
Online Reporter