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Innocent Kurira
SPONSORS of the annual Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) Tug of War Championships have increased their sponsorship of the event.
Last year, the package was at US$11500 and they have hiked it to US$17 000.
This was confirmed at the draw of this year’s competition at the ZIEC (ZITF) Grounds on Wednesday. The increase must come as a welcome development to the participants, who are expected to thrill the thousands that will throng Glamis Stadium.
The increase is spread among the men and women’s participating clubs.
Apart from cash, participants will receive T-shirts, medals and Ingwebu products.
Finals of the event will take place at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, on April 27 while group tussles will be played at Gifford High School in the morning of the same day.
The competition has become a traditional event at the fair and the draw for this year’s edition has been conducted .
In the last decade, a number of teams have taken turns to win the event unlike in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, where Wankie dominated.
The hugely popular competition is one of the main attractions on the last day of the ZITF.
Ingwebu Breweries human resources manager, Sipho Mpofu said they were looking forward to the event.
“The tournament has always been the main attraction on the last day of the ZITF annual exhibition, attracting both the young and the old. As Ingwebu Breweries, we remain committed to the development and sponsorship of this sport well into the future. To the teams, we want to say, beyond the thrill of this competition, take this opportunity to celebrate the bonds of friendship that unite us as a people,” Mpofu.
A total of 17 women’s teams have registered for the competition, which has 28 men’s sides.
Last year, Glow Petroleum retained their title in the women’s competition while defending champions Exide were dethroned by the men’s champions Mutare Board Paper Mills.
The men’s final pitted Mutare Board Paper Mills against ZETDC Western, with the former emerging victorious.
Exide were knocked out in the semi-finals by ZETDC Western. Mutare Board and Paper Mills are no strangers to winning the competition as they have won it numerous times over the years, at some stage completely dominating the competition.
In the women’s final, Glow Petroleum walked away with the top prize, with a win over ZPC Munyati. 2024 ZITF Tug Of War Draw
Ladies
Group A: Zesa Holdings, Air force, Mutare Prisons, Correctional Lions
Group B: BCC A, NRZ Byo, Ingwebu B, ZETDC Eastern
Group C: ZPC Munyati, BCC B, CBZ, Tsepete TsepeteGroup D: Glow B, Ingwebu A, Mutare City, ZB Bank
Men
Group A: Armidol, Byo Metro, Air force, ZETDC B, BCC A, Transmission B
Group B: ZETDC Western, UZ, Mutare Prisons, Mutare Board B, Marowa Diamonds, NRZ Gweru, NRZ Byo
Group C: Mutare Board, Hwange, CBZ, ZB Bank, Zvishavane, Zesa Holdings, Black Rhinos
Group D: Exide, Mimosa A, Correctional, BCC B, ZETDC Eastern, Tsepete Tsepete, Mutare
Online Reporter