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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League is yet to finalise dates for all cup competitions as well as sponsorship packages amid uncertainty over the staging of the Charity Shield season opener. According to the fixtures list released last weekend, the 2014 league race is expected to roll into life on the weekend of March 29-30, two weeks from now, clearly a deviation from the norm worldwide where the Charity Shield precedes the start of the league proper.
Mobile phone operator, NetOne has been bankrolling the Charity Shield since 2011 after penning a three year deal with the Twine Phiri-led league.
Bulawayo side, Chicken Inn won the 2013 edition of the season opener under Mandla Lulu Mpofu, now at Bantu Rovers.
Controversy though stalked the tournament after the country’s most followed sides, Highlanders and Dynamos could not make it to the final four teams that were chosen through the most number of short message services.
Premiership chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said no deals have been sealed as yet but everything will be clear after their Tuesday meeting.
“There is nothing to confirm at the moment. I can only do so probably after the Tuesday meeting. Everything else you are hearing is just but rumours,” said Ndebele.
Sources privy to the boardroom discussions at the PSL said the pullout of the Sup8r sponsors, BancABC threw everything into disarray as NetOne, who had reportedly agreed terms with the league for a contract extension on the Charity Shield sponsorship changed gates and expressed interest on funding the Sup8r Knockout tournament.
“Unless another company has come on board, I don’t think there will be the Charity Shield because NetOne, who had agreed to fund the season opener, seem eager to replace BancABC. However still on that, it is believed the mobile operator is also eyeing a 16 team tournament which at the moment, is bankrolled by miners, Mbada Diamonds,” said the source.
Re-elected Premiership president, Phiri, told Chronicle Sport on the eve of his re-election last week that he had since replaced BancABC but did not reveal the identity of the new sponsor.
Efforts to get a comment from NetOne spokesman Rutendo Chabururuka have not been successful for the past three weeks despite numerous calls and e-mails to him.
At the moment the elite league is unbranded but there are media reports that Delta Beverages, through their Castle Lager brand, have renewed their relationship.
The reports claimed a deal had been sealed although the monetary package will be released just before the season starts.
However, Chronicle Sport understands the beverages manufacturer will increase its package by a little over $400, 000 to $1 million.
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