Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE good times are gradually, but surely rolling back at ZIFA.
When Nqobile Magwizi was voted in as ZIFA president on January 25, 2025, he made a bold promise – that with the help from his board members, and other key stakeholders, he would transform the country’s flagship sporting association by restructuring the football entity, rebuild trust and bring in corporate partners.
His ZIFA have so far been ticking the boxes much to the excitement of the country’s football family who had seen their favourite game endure decades of battering.
Yesterday was one such fine moment for ZIFA as they unveiled their latest corporate partner, ProBottlers who are coming in as the association’s official Hydration Partner in a landmark two-year agreement valued at US$120 000 per year.
The development also underscores the growing private sector confidence, for which Magwizi has been on a crusade to secure.
“We have to make ZIFA an institution that can deliver, rebuild trust and bring in partners,” Magwizi told the game’s stakeholders upon his election.
The with ProBottlers will cater Zimbabwe’s national teams, from junior to senior level for both men and women.
ProBottlers had initially gone into bed with ZIFA on a trial basis during the 2025 COSAFA Under-17 tournament hosted by Zimbabwe.
And they liked what they saw during that tourney.
Yesterday ProBottlers returned to formalise their relationship with ZIFA in a deal in which they will supply refreshments including water and energy drinks for the next two years.
The refreshments suppliers join a list of ZIFA’s corporate partners who include Ecobank, Betterbrands, BancABC and Zororo Phumulani.
“They (ProBottlers) will cover the whole football ecosystem.
“They will be our official hydration partner, whereby ProBottlers will supply bottled water and sports energy drinks valued at US$120 000 per year,” Magwizi told the media at the unveiling ceremony at the ZIFA headquarters in Harare yesterday.
“From the Warriors, to the Mighty Warriors, all our junior teams, all the grassroots teams, they will be covered.
“This goes beyond product supply, it’s an investment in performance, player welfare and well-being of our national athletes who wear the national colours.”
Magwizi insisted that the ZIFA board will safeguard the latest sponsorship deal.
“Modern football requires high levels of preparation and recovery, proper hydration is very key, never a luxury.
“We promise our partners that we will deliver because we must always deliver on whatever we promise.
“We must be transparent in our work. When there is a problem we must be able to speak to the problem and say ProBottlers we have a challenge here and there.
“Standards must be set and be followed. What we promise must be delivered.
“That is what we will guarantee to anyone,” said Magwizi.
Added the ZIFA president: “We are not looking at short-term fixes where we get quick solutions and then a year or two later the partner is frustrated.
“We are looking at long-term relationships. We are looking at long term relations . . . those that will stay even beyond the existence of this current executive.
“The work we are doing now is not about the 2025 executive committee. The work we are doing here is setting the foundation for Zimbabwean football into the future and beyond the time I am here as president.”
ProBottlers managing director Rory Harley revealed how his company was charmed by ZIFA’s organisational structure under the new board led by Magwizi.
Interestingly, ProBottlers also partners the national cricket team, the Chevrons.
“Football is Zimbabwe’s number one sport,” said Harley.
“It’s an exciting time for Zimbabwean football, we began our engagement with ZIFA last year with the sponsorship of the COSAFA Under-17 tournament that Zimbabwe hosted.
“President Magwizi spoke of ZIFA’s desire to deliver value to the corporate partners; we spoke about strengthening of governance framework and transparency.
“We witnessed the work that was behind the scenes and I take my hat off to the football association and that’s why we have gone further and invested,” said Harley.
“We spoke about the new values that ZIFA have brought in, the trust they have restored.
“We sponsored the COSAFA Under-17 and we were impressed with how the tournament was run. The preparations and all.
“When we see those values that gives us the confidence to invest,’’ Harley said.
