The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda in Victoria Falls
THERE was more to CAPS United’s tweet which appeared to mock Hwange ahead of the two teams’ league clash at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
“Dear @HwangeFC. It’s up to you. To stay at home, get walked over on a 3-0, 3 points basis, and pay a fee of $2500 to @CastleLagerPSL
“Or travel almost 1 000km, spend $16 000 on fuel, food and accommodation and travel another 1 000km empty handed.
“Be financially wise,” read the post from the CAPS United’s Twitter handle.
Football banter has become popular on Twitter as more Zimbabwean clubs begin to grasp the social media tool, but beneath that CAPS tweet lay an honest and brutal expose of how top-flight teams are struggling to cope with a hyperinflationary environment.
Mushowani Stars are teetering on the brink of collapse and even failed to send a delegate to the PSL international football symposium which concluded here yesterday. Hwange, who use about 400 litres of diesel each time they travel to Harare, could have folded mid-season, while Black Rhinos, Chapungu and Dynamos are battling to survive despite being sponsored by NetOne and Gold Leaf Tobacco.
Most club officials who spoke to The Sunday Mail Sport at the symposium expressed concern over the meteoric rise in their operating expenses.
Hwange club administrator Khumbulani Mbano gave a grim account of Chipangano’s battle against the financial devils.
“We are suffering, if it were not for the love of sport, we were going to abandon ship midway,” lamented Mbano.
“We are sacrificing because sport is in our blood, we talk to the players. Even if they know they are getting what they are supposed to get, they are beginning to understand.
“Hwange Colliery has been chipping in, we have some local businessmen who are trying to help us survive this tide.
“Imagine, we need about 400 litres whenever we are going to Harare for example, but look what’s happening to the prices of fuel,” said Mbano.
Clubs like Black Rhinos, Chapungu, CAPS United and Highlanders, who have sponsorship packages from mobile giant NetOne, are also struggling to meet their expenses in an environment where the prices of accommodation and fuel are changing every week.
“We are lucky in the sense that we have NetOne, they have been able to cater for us.
“But, for other recurrent expenditures, we have been trying to find other funding mechanisms,” said Bosso CEO Nhlanhla Dube.
“We need to pay for fuel, food and bonuses. We have Under-13s, Under-17s and a staff compliment of 60 to take care of.
“The environment is changing quickly. When the cheapest ticket was pegged at $3, it was equivalent to three loaves of bread.
“Now it is going for $20 and equivalent to a loaf and less than a half, so we need to find ways to deal with these dynamics.
“But, I can tell you it’s not easy because sponsors are also playing catch-up. It’s not easy to have sponsors review their budgets midway.”
Rhinos chairman Terrence Zisengwe feels there is now need to regularly review winning bonuses since they are being eroded by inflation.
“We belong to an organisation (the army) which is in existence, so we can use its resources.
“However, we are affected like anybody else when it comes to bonuses. The amount that we used to pay is no longer valuable as it was.
“It appears the economic hardships are affecting everyone, sponsors included,’’ Zisengwe said.
Relegation-threatened Bulawayo Chiefs, one of the individually owned teams in the league, have also been hit hard.
Although club spokesman Javas Sibanda said it is not in their DNA to give up, Amakhosi are battling to make ends meet.
“We don’t have a 45 seater coach to travel on, but we have to make do with what we have in order to fulfil our fixtures.
“While it is not smooth, we will not give up. We haven’t been spared by the obtaining situation.
“We will fulfil our fixtures, we will fight for the points, fight relegation and we will do it again next year,” Sibanda said.
Despite commanding a huge following and enjoying a decent sponsorship from tobacco manufacturing firm Gold Leaf, giants Dynamos are also feeling the heat.
The Glamour Boys have had to forego camping for most of their league fixtures but club chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa is putting up a brave face.
“To be honest, things are difficult for everyone, including Dynamos.
“But, we would like to thank our main sponsor, Rudland and George, they are a listening a lot whenever we go to them asking for support.
“We also want to thank Nyararadzo Funeral Assurance for the bus and fuel support.
“Being a huge brand, we also have other benefactors. For example we have car sponsorship for the coach from a benefactor, it’s another plus.
“The commitment from players and the technical team also needs to be lauded. When things are difficult at times we choose not to camp because camping costs have gone astronomical,” said Mupfurutsa.
The PSL are on the verge of sealing another three-year deal with their traditional sponsor, Delta Beverages, with clubs hoping the new marriage will bring more funding.
Presently, Delta Beverages are sponsoring the league to the tune of $700 000 per season, with the league winners getting a measly $100 000.
However, it was clear from the symposium that there is now need for clubs to turn the game into a big industry by establishing alternative revenue generating streams rather than relying solely on the Delta sponsorship.
