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DECISION TIME . . . NetOne managing director Reward Kangai (right) conducts the draw for the Easycall Cup first round with the assistance of PSL marketing manager Rodwell Thabe at the launch of the tournament in Harare yesterday

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
LEAGUE champions Dynamos will meet How Mine in the quarter-finals of the NetOne Easycall Cup, which was launched yesterday, and will be sponsored to the tune of $433 000. The draw was conducted in Harare yesterday.

The sponsorship package did not change from last year, with the Easycall winners set to pocket $80 000 while the losing finalists will get $50 000. The losing semi-finalists will each receive $30 000 while the losing quarter-finalists will each pocket $20 000.

All the teams are set to get a full package from the sponsors, which include playing kits, and the participants will have their accommodation and transport costs catered for from the quarter-final stage.

NetOne managing director, Reward Kangai, said although most companies have downsized and cut on their social responsibility programmes, they felt they were duty-bound to support the sport, which has a massive following.

“It’s a known fact, we are facing challenges as a nation. Many companies have downsized significantly as revenue inflows nose-dived.

“Just like them, NetOne also felt the pinch and has made appropriate adjustments to weather the storm.

“As a survival strategy one of the open options could have been a reduction in our corporate social responsibility activities with soccer as a prime target.

“However, cognisant of the massive following of this sport, we refused to sacrifice the beautiful game.

“I am thus pleased to announce that the eight-team 2015 Easycall Super 8 Cup is on and we are to bankroll it to the tune of $433 000, excluding marketing costs.

“Matches are to be played in all parts of the country, in tandem with the geographical pattern of our network, you find us countrywide,” said Kangai.

He said football has a special place in NetOne, who also chipped in with $15 000 for the Mighty Warriors’ trip to Cameroon in their final qualifying round, which saw them booking a place to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Premier Soccer League, chief executive Kenny Ndebele, said he was confident that this year’s edition will be bigger and better than the inaugural tournament.

“I will like to assure you that we will stage a successful tournament. Furthermore, I take this opportunity to appeal to all participating clubs to abide by the tournament rules and regulations, as we grow the game.

“Acts of hooliganism are unacceptable and they tarnish the image of football and its corporate partners. Football is all about fun and we have to enjoy it as such.

“Thank you very much to NetOne and all our stakeholders, including football fans, who have continued to partner us in these difficult economic times,” said Ndebele.

The matches will first be played on the weekend of November of 14 -15, with the semi-finals scheduled for the weekend of December 5-6.

The final will be played the following weekend.

The venues for the matches will later be announced by the Premier Soccer League.