million knockout tournament for the Premier Soccer League.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup was unveiled at a function in Harare last night with the tournament easily becoming the biggest knockout competition in the history of the local game. Another event to officially launch the tournament will be staged on September 16 where a draw will also be conducted. But PSL chairman Twine Phiri, his leadership and the clubs will no doubt be basking in the glory of securing another major corporate partner for the game following the coming on board at the start of the season of Castle Lager, who are bankrolling the championship.

The league has also managed to retain the BancABC Sup8r tournament, which until the arrival of Mbada has been the only major knockout competition of the top-flight teams.
But with the Mbada Diamonds Cup, which guarantees its winners US$75 000, victory in the competition will also ensure a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup. Mbada media consultant Ignatius Mazura also told guests at the function that his company would give a US$150 000 subsidy to the winners to help meet the costs of participating in the Confederation Cup.

“We take pride to inform you of our novel corporate social initiative in the form of a 16-team Premier Soccer League knockout tournament which will be known as the Mbada Diamonds Cup. This prestigious tournament shall officially be launched on Friday 16 September 2011 and it is bankrolled at a value of US$1 million which we believe is the biggest sponsorship in the history of Zimbabwean soccer.

“The tournament will see the winners pocketing US$75 000, a floating trophy and US$150 000 worth of accommodation and air tickets sponsorship subsidy to participate in the Caf Confederation Cup.
“Further this subsidy shall be used to procure US$25 000 worth of kit sponsorship bearing Mbada Diamonds (Pvt) Ltd logo for use during the 2012 Caf Confederation Cup tournament while the runners up will pocket US$50 000.

“The full package for this tournament will be announced during the launch of the Mbada Diamonds Cup and the venue will be announced in due course.
“This is the latest in a series of protects to plough back to local communities and what better way than to support the local football game,” Mazura said.

The Mbada consultant said the miners also acknowledged the power of football to break social barriers and unite people of diverse backgrounds.
Mazura also remained hopeful that the PSL and its member clubs would maintain high levels of professionalism during the new tournament.

Sport is a past time for virtually everyone either as players or spectators and the role of football as a unifying force cannot be emphasised.
“Playing as a team builds a sense of co-operation and confidence among individual players and comradeship among team supporters. Competition improves the quality of the game and brings out the best in players and it is our hope that the Mbada Diamonds Cup tournament will bring out champions and soccer stars from the participating teams. “It is our hope that the players and administrators will maintain a high standard of professionalism and sportsmanship during the tournament.

“On behalf of Mbada Diamonds I would like to thank the administrators at PSL who have agreed to be partners with us in this project,” Mazura said.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele in thanking Mbada Diamonds for agreeing to come on board the top-flight football’s ship pledged that the league and its clubs will give the sponsors full value for their money.

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