There is a popular adage that says “It’s not how you start that matters but how you finish” that seems to be popular among football fans when it comes to their reactions to the inconsistency of annual cup competitions. Over the years, a number of competitions have come up in the local Premier Soccer League and most of them have not been consistent, something that seems to worry a number of football fans who spoke to best news.
One would recall competitions like the Buddie Challenge, the Dairiboard Charity Shield, and the CBZ FA Cup, which disappeared faster than they were introduced.
Although those in football administration would easily understand why some of these competitions last for a short while, the ordinary football fan does not have a comprehension of some of the dynamics involved. In essence, the fans are looking forward to more cup competitions, which mean more fun, celebration, dance and song for them.
This particular season has seen a few new competitions coming onto the scene, namely the Chibuku Cup, the TM Pick ’n pay Challenge and the ZNA Charities Trophy all which have been welcomed gladly by fans. However, the owners of the game are keen to know if these competitions are just teasers for better things to come.
“I really do not quite know what happens and what contractual agreements are taken up by the responsible authorities but as a fan I do wish some of these tournaments would last longer. I remember the old days when we would have competitions like the Dairiboard Charity Shield and the like, however maybe because of the economy we are where we are now,” said Marvelous Nkatha, a local soccer fan.
Some of the consistent sponsors in the PSL have been Delta Beverages, Mbada Diamonds, NetOne, BancABC and Nyaradzo Funeral Group among others; hence the NetOne Charity Shield, the BancABC Super8 Cup, the Mbada Diamonds Cup and also the Zimbabwe Independence Trophy have been consistent features on the PSL calendar.
Other fans who spoke to this publication cited how they sympathised with sponsors who have come on board and sponsored competitions before exiting for one reason or another, but called upon all stakeholders to support such tournaments so that they are sustainable.
“We really have to rally behind these competitions in whatever ways we can for the love of the game. At the end of the day, I guess its fun for us fans but its business for the sponsors so we have to play our part in making the best of the tournaments, as fans this means we go out in our numbers to support our football teams,” noted Dumisani Samkange.
Popular soccer commentator Charles Mabika also called on all stakeholders to be supportive of the tournament so as to have them sustainable.
“As lovers of football we do indeed want to see these competitions going ahead year after year. However, because these games are not necessarily charitable causes all the time, I recognise that it’s hard for them to be there year in and year out because this all really depends on the profits they would have made in one particular competition. Most of these tourneys are actually marketing strategies and expecting them to be perennial might be too much to ask’’ said Mabika.
“However, what we can do is to make sure that we go full fledge in support of the competitions so that companies make maximum profits. We also do need to be grateful to the likes of Delta, Mbada, BancABC, NetOne and Nyaradzo who have been all weather friends of local football. We have to appreciate them.”
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said they were happy with the contracts that they had penned with especially the new sponsors and expressed hope for great football offerings.
“We are really happy with the contracts we have with the sponsors as far as we are concerned. Whether more sponsored competitions will come on board will depend on the calendar,” noted Ndebele.
Rivals Dynamos and Highlanders met in the lucrative TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup clash at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
One would recall competitions like the Buddie Challenge, the Dairiboard Charity Shield, and the CBZ FA Cup, which disappeared faster than they were introduced.
Although those in football administration would easily understand why some of these competitions last for a short while, the ordinary football fan does not have a comprehension of some of the dynamics involved. In essence, the fans are looking forward to more cup competitions, which mean more fun, celebration, dance and song for them.
This particular season has seen a few new competitions coming onto the scene, namely the Chibuku Cup, the TM Pick ’n pay Challenge and the ZNA Charities Trophy all which have been welcomed gladly by fans. However, the owners of the game are keen to know if these competitions are just teasers for better things to come.
“I really do not quite know what happens and what contractual agreements are taken up by the responsible authorities but as a fan I do wish some of these tournaments would last longer. I remember the old days when we would have competitions like the Dairiboard Charity Shield and the like, however maybe because of the economy we are where we are now,” said Marvelous Nkatha, a local soccer fan.
Some of the consistent sponsors in the PSL have been Delta Beverages, Mbada Diamonds, NetOne, BancABC and Nyaradzo Funeral Group among others; hence the NetOne Charity Shield, the BancABC Super8 Cup, the Mbada Diamonds Cup and also the Zimbabwe Independence Trophy have been consistent features on the PSL calendar.
Other fans who spoke to this publication cited how they sympathised with sponsors who have come on board and sponsored competitions before exiting for one reason or another, but called upon all stakeholders to support such tournaments so that they are sustainable.
“We really have to rally behind these competitions in whatever ways we can for the love of the game. At the end of the day, I guess its fun for us fans but its business for the sponsors so we have to play our part in making the best of the tournaments, as fans this means we go out in our numbers to support our football teams,” noted Dumisani Samkange.
Popular soccer commentator Charles Mabika also called on all stakeholders to be supportive of the tournament so as to have them sustainable.
“As lovers of football we do indeed want to see these competitions going ahead year after year. However, because these games are not necessarily charitable causes all the time, I recognise that it’s hard for them to be there year in and year out because this all really depends on the profits they would have made in one particular competition. Most of these tourneys are actually marketing strategies and expecting them to be perennial might be too much to ask’’ said Mabika.
“However, what we can do is to make sure that we go full fledge in support of the competitions so that companies make maximum profits. We also do need to be grateful to the likes of Delta, Mbada, BancABC, NetOne and Nyaradzo who have been all weather friends of local football. We have to appreciate them.”
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said they were happy with the contracts that they had penned with especially the new sponsors and expressed hope for great football offerings.
“We are really happy with the contracts we have with the sponsors as far as we are concerned. Whether more sponsored competitions will come on board will depend on the calendar,” noted Ndebele.
Rivals Dynamos and Highlanders met in the lucrative TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup clash at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
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