adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TENNIS Zimbabwe president Regis Bhunu has revealed that they have secured sponsorship to host the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Moldova at Harare Sports Club this month.
Zimbabwe will host Moldova from July 17 to 19 in a Euro/Africa Group II relegation play-off.
It will be the first meeting between the two sides.
Zimbabwe were promoted into Group II last year from the Africa Zone Group III and they lost the first tie to Bosnia/Herzegovina 1-4 in March.
If the Zimbabweans lose against Moldova, they will return to Group III.
The national association has been running around to raise funds for the tie and Bhunu this week said they have, at least, managed to get enough money to host the event.
Bhunu said they were initially looking at a budget of $80 000 but what they have received so far will enable them to hold the event.
“The preparations are ongoing. We have managed to secure funding from NetOne and, definitely, the Davis Cup tie (against Moldova) is on and there is nothing stopping it now because the funding is quite substantial,” said Bhunu.
“We got $35 000 from NetOne and we believe it can push us to be able to hold the Davis Cup tie successfully.
“We are still appealing for funds and we also got another form of sponsorship from Zuva and they have come in with a good sponsorship package totalling $20 000, spread over a period of four months.
“We have used some of the money to develop one of the tennis courts and we are going to use part of the money in trying to run the event itself.”
Online Reporter