adminThe Bulls were hoping to cash in on the $150 000 sponsorship package from the diamonds mining company after Dynamos, who won the cup last Sunday, opted for the Champions League instead of the less lucrative Confederation Cup.
Motor Action owner, Eric Rosen, told this publication on Thursday that their reason for registering was based on the understanding that they would receive sponsorship from Mbada Diamonds as the losing finalists since the agreement clearly stated that the company was going to bankroll Confederation Cup participants.
However, yesterday it emerged that the decision on where to deposit the money is yet to be made by the sponsors, leaving Motor Action at the risk of being banned by the Confederation of African
Football if they withdraw their name from the participating teams due to lack of sponsorship.
“We would not have entered our name if we were not sure of the sponsorship because the African journey is too expensive,” Rosen had said.
Contacted for comment, a top Mbada Diamonds official George Manyaya, who said he was out of the country on business, could not commit himself referring instead all enquiries to the Premier Soccer League’s finance and administration manager Cuthbert Mutandwa.
“Talk to Mutandwa from the PSL offices, he is our liaison officer and he is the one handling that issue,” said Manyaya.
Mutandwa was also not clear saying the decision was going to be made probably by Monday or Tuesday next week.
“Some of the Mbada management guys have gone to the mine in Mutare but at the moment, no decision on which team will be sponsored has been made but like you are aware, the agreement was that they will sponsor the team that wins the cup and participates in the Confederation Cup,” said Mutandwa.
He said since Dynamos chose to compete in the Champions League “the money might go to Motor Action but for now it’s not a certainty”.
The Bulls though have up to Monday to withdraw from participation after the continental football mother body extended the deadline from 30 November to 5 December.
“This is a reminder to all national football bodies. The deadline for engagement in CAF inter-clubs competitions 2012 is now extended from 30 November 2011 to 5 December due to the interruption of Internet/fax/phone lines at CAF headquarters,” said Caf in a statement.
Online Reporter