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Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
TWINE Phiri believes he did a sterling job for the Premier Soccer League to be deservedly granted another term of office as their chairman. Phiri was first elected to lead the PSL board in March 2010 and yesterday the CAPS United supremo won another tenure after beating his challenger Kenny Mubaiwa of Dynamos by 12 votes to three while Peter Dube was elected unopposed as the vice-chairman.
In the run-up to the elections, both Phiri and Mubaiwa chose to do a “door- to-door campaigning” where they could go to respective clubs to sell their ideas instead of the public glare.
And yesterday it seemed the clubs chose to give Phiri another term and he is now looking forward to consolidating his achievements.
“I strongly feel that the effort I put in this league were more than 100 percent. If we look back when I came into office in 2010, there was sponsor but, I have managed to brand the league.
“Once more I am the PSL chairman and I am going to render my services, and this time it should be 150 percent effort. I am an interested party in this league and I am happy that my colleagues have shown confidence in me.
“I can speak that sponsors like BancABC, Mbada Diamonds, NetOne, Delta and SuperSport came along.
“There is also going to be another sponsor for a 16-team tournament that should be coming on board (soon),” said Phiri. There was a point last season when Phiri came under fire from the clubs for not fully disclosing the broadcasting deal between the league and SuperSport, but it appears he weathered the storm to be given another mandate.
At the moment Delta have not renewed their sponsorship for the league but Phiri is confident that the brewery company will remain on board.
“It’s true (Delta has not signed a deal) but I will go and speak to Delta and I know there will come on board. At the moment I am also not in a position to reveal who is the other sponsor (for the 16-team knockout cup competition). I need to speak to the sponsor first but definitely we will have a new 16-team tournament this year,” said Phiri.
Phiri said all the clubs now have the fixture for this season but the programme will be officially released before the end of the week.
“The fixture is ready but there are some logistics, which the secretariat is dealing with and I cannot disclose them. We are hoping that the league (will) start two weeks from now,” said Phiri. While SuperSport have been the official broadcaster for the league, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation are likely to be granted access to beam some of the matches this season.
“It’s very true that we need the local television to work together with SuperSport International,” said Phiri.
Phiri said his major challenge would be to increase the amount of revenue that is coming to the league so that clubs make a profit in the football business. “We need to increase sponsorship so that clubs get more money and we also need to assist clubs to have their respective sponsors. So the league will have to work very hard to come up with a brand that attracts every corporate to be on board,” said Phiri.
Dube, who is the Highlanders chairman, said he was also looking forward to a fruitful four-year term where they will protect the league as a brand.
“What we are seeing today confirms that football is a big business and all big businesses need to be protected. I promised that while I serve football, I will try to protect the interests of football. If there is no strong PSL, there will be not a strong Highlanders FC and other clubs.
“This (PSL) is the top bracket in our country and if it’s not doing well, football will not do well in Zimbabwe.”
Online Reporter