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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE National Army Commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda is optimistic that the creation of a separate ministry of sport will help football in its eternal struggle for funding.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony of two buses donated to Black Rhinos and Buffaloes by the Nyaradzo Group in the capital yesterday, Sibanda challenged more companies to give sport a helping hand.
Under the Score Pack package, teams stand to benefit 10 percent of the monthly premiums paid by their supporters who are policy holders of Nyaradzo Funeral Policy.
Already, Black Mambas and CAPS United have received buses, while more clubs, including the traditional giants Dynamos and Highlanders, are set to receive their buses from the company.
“For this game to flourish there is need for peace and tranquillity. And in one way we are part participants in the game and in another we also provide a very essential ingredient for the game to take place, that is peace and tranquillity.
“We try and do that to the best of our ability so that we can continue to enjoy this beautiful game.
“But it also requires collaboration between government and the private sector to support this game.
“And whilst this happens a lot in many countries it has been absent in our country.
“This because of the challenges that we have been having. We have not seen a lot of sponsorship like government to sport in general and soccer in particular.
“We have also not seen the sponsorship from the corporates in general. There are some, such as Nyaradzo and a few others, that have sponsored.
“But, generally, because of the economic challenges we have not had that kind of support we would want,” said Sibanda.
He said in other countries sport was flourishing because of the sponsorship it was receiving.
“In other countries there is so much support that is overwhelming. One hopes that with the changes that have now happened we should be able to move this support to a higher level,” said Sibanda.
“This donation is welcome and will go a long way in easing transport challenges the two teams have been facing.
“I want to urge other corporates to follow suit and sponsor and take sport and football to a higher level.”
Nyaradzo chief executive, Philip Mataranyika, said they want clubs to have peace of mind.
The chairman of Buffaloes Francis Mabika said they were grateful to this partnership with Nyaradzo.
“It is a challenge given to us by Nyaradzo. And we are now left to do our part in the Score Pack Plan. We are still using equipment from ten years ago, so this bus, 25 years to come, it would be still better than it is today,” said Mabika. Black Rhinos secretary Amos Svovanepasi said they were good at maintaining their equipment and the one they had been using was acquired in 1986.
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