Nyatanga hails Savanna deal

football supporters with free transport to football matches.
The company said they ferried about 3000 fans to Rufaro on Sunday, for the Dynamos/Black Mambas match, for free as part of this promotion.
This is a feat not explored by any other company.
Savanna Tobacco said they realised that while most sponsorship packages were centred on attracting the attention of fans, once they are inside the stadium, very little was being done to help the supporters to come to the grounds.
Where some fans used to spend US$5, just to come to Rufaro and watch a Dynamos game on the cheapest ticket, on Sunday some of them just spent US$3.
Nyatanga said this was an innovative campaign that should be supported by all stakeholders in football.
“This is what we have always been missing in football. It is a very welcome move by Savanna Tobacco and only those out to destroy football will find fault in something that benefits supporters,” said Nyatanga.
“No one owns supporters.
“There is no club or sponsor worldwide that can claim they own supporters.
“Supporters are people with a passion for football and some can switch from one team to another without reporting to anyone.
“Current sponsorships in the country are targeting mileage from supporters, but doing absolutely nothing to help supporters in any way.
“They can’t raise bus fare to watch their games home and away, yet you see sponsors scrambling to showcase their wallets to clubs and blocking all other sponsors from improving football.”
Nyatanga said football needed more sponsors and should not be a closed shop for a few.
“You don’t come to football to say I have money and I can write a cheque anytime,” said Nyatanga.
“Rather, you should demonstrate ability to work with others for the good of football.
“Clubs tend to benefit from multiple sponsors as each sponsor comes in to address specific needs of the clubs.
“We cannot continue to see our underpaid players moving to other African leagues because of this selfish agenda developing in football.”
On the ‘Zorai Butter ne Pacific’ sponsorship, Nyatanga said the fans were the biggest beneficiaries in the end.
Going forward, he appealed to the supporters to start looking at ways they can organise themselves to enable them to engage in fund-raising activities that would enable them to travel for local and international matches as well as assisting funding needs for their clubs.
“An innovative sponsorship of this nature is an all-stakeholder winner for football.
“The more the people come to the stadium the more the clubs benefit and players get the morale boost and motivation they need,” said Nyatanga.
Savanna Tobacco are not new in football.
The company has sponsored Dynamos and Highlanders at a very difficult period when corporate sponsorship was not forthcoming.
A memorable intervention by Savanna Tobacco saw Dynamos being rescued from relegation in 2005 with only four matches remaining.
Finally, the company is restoring the dignity and importance of the football supporter and this is indeed a first in domestic football.