Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Zimbabwe Republic Police inter-stations football league got a timely boost when sportswear shop Townshend and Butcher unveiled a $1 340 sponsorship package at a ceremony held at Ross Camp yesterday.
The partnership between the police force and Townshend and Butcher started over 20 years ago and took a break between 2008 and 2012 due to the country’s harsh economic environment. It then resumed in 2013.
The inter-station league has 16 teams from various police stations in the city and is used as a platform to identify talent within the force for national and regional competitions.
The league has transformed fortunes of Bulawayo province, with Team Bulawayo bringing home a bronze medal in the last edition of the Commissioner General Sports Gala after years of struggling.
ZRP Bulawayo also has a team playing in the Zifa Southern Region Division One league. The team was promoted into the second tier league in 2015.
Peter Leodios from Townshend and Butcher promised to continue supporting the police force as a way of thanking them for their brave work in the city of Bulawayo.
“It is our desire to have mentally and physically fit officers. I believe the league helps the officers keep in shape. I urge other businesspeople to get involved in sponsorship of the various sporting disciplines we have in the country. We promise to continue supporting the league and making sure it grows bigger and better,” said Leodios.
Chief Superintendent Nkululeko Ndlovu hailed the sponsors’ unwavering support for the police force.
“I am grateful to receive this package. It is rare in such a harsh economic environment for someone to come on board to help our officers and members with such sponsorship. The benefits of this sponsorship are too enormous to count. One of the evident benefits is crime prevention through sports,” said Ndlovu.
The package included football kits for the top three teams as well as medals.
Online Reporter