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Nkosilodumo Ndebele
SIXTY and still in the game!
Speaking after this yeara��s Bulawayo Amateur Football League (Bafa) draw at Townshend and Butcher last week, Peter Leodios said he was still eager to continue supporting the tournament.
Since 1957 Townshend and Butcher a�� a sports retail company a�� has been sponsoring amateur football and this year the company celebrates 60 years making it the longest sponsorship for soccer in Zimbabwea��s history.
Fourteen teams are registered to compete in this yeara��s edition.
a�?Wolly Townshend and a friend Butcher started the company and were also the pioneers for sponsoring the league and we must give them credit for that,a�? said Leodios.
He bought the company from Townshend and Butcher in 1986 but kept the name.
a�?We are not related, I was into the sportswear industry selling and supplying business when l met Townshend and thata��s when I got interested in the business.
a�?When l approached him with my business proposal that l wanted to buy their company he accepted,a�? he added.
The two men became friends andA� from then Leodios made a commitment to Townshend that he would carry on sponsoring Bafa.
a�?It also was an idea of keeping the youngsters out of the streets and so when they told me why they did it l decided to carry on because ita��s a very good idea.a�?
As an individual Leodios also admitted that he was a soccer enthusiast including his four sons.
a�?My sons support Highlanders and they all used to play soccer at school, they have also assisted me in donating trophies that we give to schools like Christian Brothers College and Falcon College every year,a�? he said.
a�?As Greeks soccer remains our main sport although we give our donations to many other different sporting disciplines,a�? he added.
Townshend and Butcher have also been involved in other sponsorships which include the ZRP Bulawayo Soccer League which they have been supporting for 20 years and the Highlanders darts tournament which they have been supporting for the last three years.
Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints are among the teams which competed in the Bafa tournament in the past.
derick.khumalo