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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministries have blazed a trail by becoming the first organisation to sponsor the Harare Province Division Two A and B League after a deal was struck in the capital on Thursday.

The official announcement is set to be made at a function in Harare on Tuesday.

But The Saturday Herald can reveal that PHD Ministries, headed by Prophet Walter Magaya, who is a football enthusiast, have agreed to sponsor the two leagues, which have 46 teams this season.

Magaya’s team, Yadah, play in one of the leagues after the prophet pulled out of the deal to sponsor Gunners, which have since fallen under CAPS United as a developmental side.

The prophet is one of the Yadah players and has been training with his players in the past few weeks, spending as much as six hours on the training pitch, to put themselves in good shape for the battles.

ZIFA Harare Province vice-chairman Robert Tembo confirmed the development and said they were happy to find a sponsor in these challenging times.

The province last had a sponsor back in 2014 when they had a knockout tournament sponsored by Doves but PHD Ministries’ sponsorship will be for the league programme. Tembo said all the logistics were in place and what is left now is for the marriage to be unveiled on Tuesday.

“We are very happy that we will have a sponsor this season for all our leagues and it is positive on our part as a province,” said Tembo.

“The coming on board of PHD Ministries is a plus on our side and we hope to improve our league with such a kind gesture. We have been trying hard to find a sponsor but finally we have one and it is good for us. The coming on board of such a partner will go a long way in improving the leagues and I believe we are going to have more talent coming from the province.”

Tembo said details of how much will be put into the leagues will be unveiled in due course.“We are still to get figures but I know it will be a lucrative deal and we are also yet to sit down with team representatives to map a way forward,” said Tembo.

“So we call all teams to send two representatives for the Tuesday meeting to be held at ZIFA House.”

Prophet Magaya, a passionate sportsman, is building a state-of-the-art sports complex in Waterfalls, which include a football stadium that was hosting Division One matches last year.