Chris “Romario” Musekiwa Features correspondent
AS I watched the live draw of the Mbada Diamonds Cup launch at ZBC studios last Friday with the who is who in our football, stakeholders and influential sporting authorities and key opinion leaders, something made me realise that many other sponsors should come aboard. I was

convinced that exciting and success stories lay ahead of us in the second edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
The mining giant’s involvement in the local football has run so smoothly that the local football family is able to celebrate the commitment and consistency shown by

Mbada Diamonds knowing that the company has the potential and capacity to bankroll football that has for a long time lacked good sponsorship and perception of good corporate governance.
A chat with Mbada Diamonds corporate services executive George Manyaya convinced me that the company’s vision would really help regenerate increased commercial value of the local game. The resultant revenue can thus be used in implementing a renewed approach to further enhance our club football and strengthen the long-term future of the Premier Soccer League and football at large.

Of late, Mbada Diamonds have also come to the rescue of the national soccer team with timely boost sponsorship on accommodation, transport costs, player camping allowances and more importantly bonuses for the national team.
Mbada Diamonds should be saluted for coming up with the US$2 000 per player incentive ahead of the explosive clash against Angola and the team responded in style and put up a splendid performance to win 3-1 against the feared Angolans.

Mbada Diamonds has provided a platform to re-engineer Zimbabwe football at national and Premier League club level to a commercial level that would render our local game consistent with the current dispensation and make clubs and our Warriors become more dominant forces on the African continent.
Mbada Diamonds have come at a time when there is growing pressure to offer tangible football solutions to our local game that should take Zimbabwean from the present crisis to a situation into Africa and, indeed, the world’s football powerhouse. Mbada Diamonds deserve the total support of the entire local football family that is, fans, media, administrators, teams, players and communities because their approach is all inclusive.

The Mbada Diamonds Cup is the richest ever soccer tournament in Zimbabwe’s history. It was launched last year and won by Dynamos. Due to the Champions League commitments Dynamos were not able to fulfil the Confederations Cup and runners-up Motor Action took up the slot and Mbada Diamonds once again provided the necessary support and created a platform for the Motor Action players to make their mark.
Mbada Diamonds discharged their financial responsibilities and obligations to the local game by paying more than US$800 000 to enable ZBC to screen the 2012

Africa Cup of Nations which we watched in the comfort of our homes. That was a demonstration of corporate social responsibility.
The same Mbada Diamonds also extended its resources to newly promoted Premier League side Buffaloes who are based in Mutare. This support was aimed at helping the Manicaland-based side to cover transport costs, player bonuses and other related expenses during the course of the current season.  
The 2012 Mbada Diamond Cup is set to create a competition that provides a platform from which our clubs can achieve unparalleled support in domestic or African competition.

It is very important for the corporate world and sport to forge strong ties and both to take advantage of such partnerships to demonstrate for the benefit of football.

Good community support and sound corporate social responsibility and increased media coverage encourages players to commit themselves to the game.
PSL should know that finding a sponsor like Mbada Diamonds is not easy and that once you have them on board it is just as important as to keep them. Basics like image building, professionalism, sound management, public relations and communication skills, transparency and accountability become mandatory.

While Mbada Diamonds seem determined to go a long way with sponsoring football they also do not want their image tarnished and they will certainly not want to identify with clownish behaviour.

As the mother body, Zifa must also help raise the standard of football by behaving with utmost good faith and honesty and discharge their responsibilities and obligations for the good of the game. Zifa must use its power and influence responsibly in order to improve the game in this country, support the partnership between its affiliates and such sponsors like Mbada Diamonds and help to strengthen and generate the long term future of the Zimbabwean game in particular club football and junior development.

The more sponsors in commercial ventures we have, the more we can guarantee financial liquidity of the clubs and the whole game. The more necessary skills and experience at high level of our football management the better.
In the new dispensation of football, the emphasis is on activities that relate to corporate social responsibility.

Zifa must understand that with the requisite management and governance skills at the higher echelons of our football, we can merge with businesses their social responsibilities seriously and acting as good, upstanding members of the community.
To our media colleagues equally appreciated, we should share a symbiotic relationship. Just as good as football benefits from being covered day in day out by the media, so the media also benefits from the appeal of football. Zifa, PSL and the entire football family including the partners of the game should all strive to provide plenty of opportunities for the media and thus for the good of the public at large.

On behalf of the more than 14 million people in Zimbabwe who play a unique part in supporting and cheering our local soccer players and clubs and without their support the fun, entertainment and central values associated with football would hardly be possible, we would  like to guarantee our continued commitment and support to such sponsorships from renowned companies  like Mbada Diamonds.

We guarantee that as partners we can all provide important services to the game and for the good of our society. Various communities such as Kariba, Beitbridge and Bindura will have a lifetime opportunity to witness premiership football this weekend when the first round matches kicks off.
Thank you Mbada Diamonds for your support which will ensure that football remains a bearer of hope now and in the future. Let the games begin.

Chris “Romario” Musekiwa is Zimbabwe Football Cheerleader.