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DEAL DONE . . . Zifa president Cuthbert Dube (in suit) shares a lighter moment with Umbro sales director Donovan Bell soon after yesterday’s kit presentation ceremony while Warriors players (from left) Masimba Mambare, Partson Jaure and Tafadzwa Dube as well as coach Ian Gorowa and his assistant Callisto Pasuwa (right) follow the proceedings

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S Warriors received just the kind of morale booster they needed at the start of their African Nations Championship training camp when international sportswear manufacturer Umbro unveiled a kit sponsorship package for them in the capital yesterday. The Warriors, just like the other local national football teams, have been using different kits for different assignments with the Young Warriors being the worst affected as they wore an unbranded kit at the just ended Cosafa Under-20 Championships in Lesotho.

But there was a refreshing sight for the Warriors a day after they began camp when Umbro announced that they had struck a deal with Zifa to become the association’s technical partners at least for the CHAN tournament.

Umbro are looking at reviewing their marriage with Zifa after the CHAN tournament and possibly extend the deal to cover the Mighty Warriors and all the youth teams.

The Warriors — who have previously worn such brands like Legea, Jattazi, L-Sporto, Adidas, Puma and ENS — will certainly be wearing the Umbro strip when they make their third CHAN appearance at the tournament which will run in South Africa from January 11 to February 1.

Zimbabwe are in Group B that includes Burkina Faso, Morocco and Uganda and Ian Gorowa’s men will start their campaign with a date against the Atlas Lions on January 12.

In presenting the kit, Umbro Sales director Donovan Bell said although the initial deal had been sealed just weeks before the start of the CHAN tournament, his company was optimistic of striking a long-term partnership with Zifa that would go beyond the competition and which would cater for all national teams as well as the printing and sale of a lot of replica jerseys.

“Three months ago we were approached to come in as technical partner and we said we would start with the CHAN team and then go to the women and the junior teams.

“Umbro’s slogan for 2014 is ‘Heart and Soul of Football’ and we believe this tallies with the spirit that we have seen in the Warriors. In the few games that I have watched them play, I have seen that kind of spirit.

“We are going to dress the Warriors squad for CHAN as agreed to between Zifa and Umbro we will provide everything from footwear, T-shirts, training equipment, playing kits, tracksuits and off field attire.

“We will provide everything they require and since we are based in Cape Town where they are playing we can also get them anything they may further  require,’’ Bell said.

Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said his association was pleased to have Umbro on board and indicated that the soccer mother body was “seized with putting together an enabling environment for the senior national team’s performance at the CHAN tournament’’.

Dube said although there had been little or no financial support coming Zifa’s way, he was still optimistic that the Government and corporate entities would support the Warriors as they did on previous occasions when the senior team qualified for the 2004 and 2006 African Cup of Nations tournaments.

“The senior men’s team is our flagship team and we had to ensure that they are not short of support resources and other services. We need to give the team all the necessary support if the team is to perform well.

“When the Warriors qualified for their maiden appearance at the African Cup of Nations in 2014, Government and sponsors fell over each other to sponsor the team’s preparations and participation. In 2006 once more Government and the sponsors stampeded over each other as they availed material and financial resources for the Warriors ahead of and during the 2006 Nations Cup.

“We are aware that Government and sponsors have faced challenges over the years in respect of sponsoring national teams. We implore Government to avail, as has been the tradition, a special tournament grant for national teams which qualify for regional, continental and international tournaments,’’ Dube said.

The Zifa president, who has often financially bailed out the national game, reiterated his call that the Warriors could not be serviced from an individual’s personal resources.

“A national team cannot be serviced by a football association whose huge debts are public knowledge. A national team cannot be sponsored by the Zifa president when other national teams, the world over get sponsorship from their governments and sponsors.

“The senior national team’s preparations and participation at the 2014 CHAN tournament require sponsorship in respect of apparel, transport, full board accommodation, allowances, beverages, and other cost centres. I once more appeal for sponsors to come to the party in support of the Warriors and other national teams.

“Today Umbro have seen it fit to dress the Warriors ahead of and during the 2014 CHAN tournament and the association would like to place on record our deepest appreciation and gratitude to Umbro for the interest they have shown in the Warriors brand.
“The Warriors brand is a strong brand which no sponsor can afford to ignore. Now that the association has emerged out of the Asiagate madness, the brand equity for the Warriors will get stronger.

“We urge Umbro to flood the local and South African market with paraphernalia for the fans during the CHAN tournament.
“We implore Umbro to have confidence in working closely with local football over the next three months beyond which our relationship shall be reviewed,’’ Dube said.

The Zifa boss also used the kit presentation ceremony to announce that a local company – Lighmart transport had sponsored a vehicle that will be used by national coach Gorowa.

“Lighmart, a local corporate citizen has seen the logic in sponsoring the Warriors by providing a sponsored vehicle for the senior men’s team coach.

“The vehicle shall service the head coach’s local commitments making him able to carry our surveillance missions around the country,’’ Dube said.