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DONE DEAL . . . Zifa Northern Region chairman Willard Manyengavana (left) listens as secretary-general Sweeney Mushonga (centre) chats with Yadah TV executive chairman Walter Magaya during the launch of the Yadah TV Knock-out Cup in Harare on Tuesday. — (Picture by Tawanda Bote)

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ZIFA Northern Region chairman Willard Manyengavana says the Yadah TV Knock-out Cup is another huge boost for his league that did not even have a single sponsor last year.
Manyengavana and his administration team of vice-chairman Martin Kweza and secretary-general Sweeney Mushonga have been spearheading a revolution in the Northern Region Division One league.

They have turned the league into an attractive one, which has seen three sponsors coming on board, with Japanese company World Navi sponsoring the league championship and Player of the Year award.

Supreme Panel Beaters have also come on board as sponsors of the Golden Boot and the monthly top goalscorer award.
Yadah TV unveiled their eight-team knock-out tournament on Monday with the sponsors’ executive chairman, Prophet Walter Magaya, saying he was ready to help Division One football become very attractive that some players will find it fashionable to leave the Premiership to play in the second-tier league.

Yadah TV poured US$30 000 into their knock-out competition, the biggest amount of money ever sunk into a Division One football competition in this country.
Manyengavana has, naturally, been a happy man.

“The new development partnering Yadah TV will, without doubt, help us rejuvenate our teams and enable our players to gain more game time, at the same time improving their skills and competitiveness,” Manyengavana said.

“The coming on board of Yadah TV is a very welcome development, especially taking into account that sponsorship is hard to come by these days.
“Corporate organisations are focusing more on their business basics in a bid to adjust and fight the obtaining liquidity crunch.

“We are naturally delighted when we have organisations such as Yadah TV sponsoring the beautiful game of football.”
Manyengavana said sponsors were the life-blood of any league and their organisation was no exception.

“As the World Navi Northern Region Division One league, we highly value the sponsorship as it helps us to take soccer from one level to another,” said Manyengavana.
“Sponsorship motivates our teams into building strong and competitive sides and gives us confidence that we are in the right direction as no one wants to be associated with a league going into the wrong direction.

“The sponsorship also boosts the outside world’s confidence in us so we always cherish such deals,” added Manyengavana.
Meanwhile, Flame Lily team manger Robson Nyamudarikwa, whose team will meet Black Mambas, described the draw as very fair.

“I am so happy with the way the draw was conducted and I hope we are going to do well in the event and proceed to the next round,” said Nyamudarikwa.
“We are not afraid of them as in the first game they just managed to get a lucky goal but it was a 50-50 situation.

“We are looking forward to the game and we will make sure that our guys are prepared for the match.
“The guys are in good shape as we have been training a lot,” Nyamudarikwa said.

Flame Lily are lying second behind Gunners in the championship race.