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Warriors Get New Partner(AllAfrica.com English Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Harare, May 25, 2007 (The Herald/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- THE Warriors yesterday tied the knot with a new sponsor -- an emerging local beverage manufacturing company -- as the countdown to the make-or-break 2008 Nations Cup showdown against Morocco finally got underway. Eastpride Trading -- who manufacture the Splash brand of mineral water and juices -- officially became a partner of the Warriors yesterday by committing themselves to the cause of the senior national football team. The company became the official supplier of bottled water to the Warriors and also committed themselves to giving out cash prizes and a hamper of their products to the outstanding Warrior in future assignments. They will supply the water and juice requirements for the Warriors during their camping period and on match days while visiting teams will also be catered for in the same package. Eastpride Trading's association with the Warriors is with immediate effect and the company will supply the water and juice requirements for the team during its training camp ahead of the friendly international against Lesotho at Mucheke tomorrow. The Warriors' outstanding player in tomorrow's match will also be rewarded by the same company and cash prizes will be reviewed depending on the prevailing economic environment. A function was held at Zifa House in the capital yesterday where the deal between the Eastpride Trading and the Warriors was formalised. The company was represented by its three directors -- Sammy Jakata, Eliah Murahwa and Progress Maisva -- while Zifa were represented by the board member in charge of development, Regis Dzenga, and acting chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya. Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri, his assistant Methembe Ndlovu, team manager Ernest Sibanda, his assistant Shariff Mussa, team doctor Edward Chagonda and physiotherapist Lloyd Maungwa represented the national team. Among the crew of Warriors who attended the function were Evans Gwekwerere, Noel Kaseke, Method Mwanjali, Clemence Matawu, Zephania Ngodzo, Carrington Gomba and comeback kid Ronald Sibanda. Eastpride managing director Murahwa said his young company wanted to play a part in taking the Warriors to a higher level and they remained confident that the national team could even beat Morocco in their own backyard and qualify for the 2008 Nations Cup finals. Murahwa said his company firmly believes that the private sector should play a big role in helping the Warriors realise their dreams and their sponsorship package was meant to lessen the burden that Zifa carries on its shoulders when it comes to bankrolling the team. Accepting the donation, Dzenga said the Warriors' success was key to lifting both the morale and profile of the domestic game and, while the national team was currently down, there were concrete plans to breathe life into the side for long-term benefits. Dzenga promised the gathering that his board had learnt from its mistakes and was now ploughing a productive lane that should bring success to the domestic game -- from the juniors right to the senior national team. He said it was touching to find that in such a tough economic environment there were come emerging companies that were prepared to set aside resources to help football. Addressing the same gathering, Rushwaya warned local companies who were still sitting on the fence that they had to commit themselves to football now or risk missing the 2010 World Cup train. "Sponsorship is the lifeblood of football -- the mainstay of the game -- the catalyst that has turned the world's most beautiful sport from its hopeless amateur status, at the beginning, to a multi-billion dollar industry that can rival any of the globe's great money-making machines. "Without its corporate partners football would be a dead horse -- unable to pay its superstars like Didier Drogba, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo and even our star players like Benjani, Peter Ndlovu and Esrom Nyandoro would not have acquired both the status and wealth that they enjoy now. "With its corporate partners football is a wealthy sport -- the best in the world -- and the Fifa World Cup, which owes its existence to its firm relationship with big-time global sponsors, has emerged from the shadows to become the greatest show on earth. "It is therefore against this background that I must say thank you to our partners today -- Eastpride -- for coming on board our little football ship and making the first steps towards the establishment of a firm bond that will be mutually beneficial to both parties. "The 2010 World Cup show is coming here in just three years time and there will be a battle for space. To Eastpride I say you have made the first move. Others are sleeping right now hoping that they will catch the train at the last minute. "Sadly the train would have passed and they will miss the benefits," said Rushwaya. Meanwhile, Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari is now expected in the country today after failing to connect a flight home yesterday from South Africa in time for tomorrow's international friendly against Lesotho at Mucheke. The Portsmouth forward was expected at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport yesterday afternoon but missed the connecting flight from Johannesburg. "He is now expected to take the morning (this morning) plane after missing today's (yesterday) flight,' said business associate Oscar Ncube yesterday. Warriors manager Sibanda said they had not been informed of Mwaruwari's travel arrangements. "We have not heard anything about that, the last communication we had from him was that he is arriving tonight (last night)," he said. Mwaruwari is part of the 27-man squad preparing for the do or die Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco in Casablanca on June 2. Only 14 players had reported for camp in Harare yesterday, among them two foreign-based duo of Kaseke, who plies his trade in Cyprus, and Gwekwerere of Moroka Swallows. The Warriors manager said they were not putting any restrictions on players' arrival schedules as they wanted to have the full squad in camp. The Belgium-based trio of Cephas Chimedza, Honour Gombami and Vusa Nyoni were also expected in the capital last night. "They have actually arrived in the country and should be reporting here. Honour and Vusa misplaced their bags, but should report in. "Peter Ndlovu and Esrom Nyandoro should be in by Sunday after their game (ABSA Cup final on Saturday) while the other players from Poland are in action this weekend and are also not available. "We are not quite sure when they will arrive because we have the game on 29 May before leaving for Morocco the following day. They will just have one day of training and that will be at the coach's discretion." Other internationals expected last night included Kaizer Chiefs anchorman Tinashe Nengomasha, James Matola of SuperSport United and Onesimo Bhasera of relegated side Maritzburg United. Copyright 2007 The Herald. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |