The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere, Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS and Dynamos players that are going to take part in the proposed Supa Power Cup Botswana invitational tournament, an initiative by Joy Foundation Sports Development, will each get P5 000 as appearance fees, Sunday Sport has learnt.
The tournament is set for 29 July at Francistown Sports Complex. In an interview from her base in Bostwana, Joy Foundation Sports Development director Joy Setshedi said the two brands of Zimbabwe’s football will compete in the tournament against Botswana’s Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Tafic and the teams will benefit from the SMS proceedings.
“We have been in touch with Highlanders and Dynamos who have both agreed in principle to take part in the tournament. We have sent them their respective contracts with regards to the tournament which meant to raise funds for the development of a multi-facet sports facility in the district of Kgatleng, Mochudi in Botswana.
“The main objective of the tournament is to raise funds for the Joy Foundation to build the Joy Foundation Sports Facility as well as implementation of football development initiatives in Botswana, working with the Botswana Football Association (BFA). Proceeds made from the tournament will be shared by Joy Foundation, FRAFA, BFA. Botswana and Zimbabwe teams will benefit from the SMS proceedings. However each player will be paid P5 000 appearance fee. Members of the respective technical teams will also pocket the same amount,” said Setshedi.
However, Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League are reportedly yet to give Bosso and DeMbare the green light to take part in the invitational tournament.
The foundation, which was founded in November 2011, has organised and participated in several successful tournaments from inception to date. Some of the tournaments include Gaborone Regional Youth tournament, Cosafa Ball Boys and Mascot tournament and DHL organised Skills Sharing Exercise that featured South Africa’s football legends Doctor Khumalo and Quinton Fortune.
Setshedi added that for this tournament, which Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube acknowledged receiving an invitational letter, supporters of the respective teams that are set to participate will be engaged directly in the selection of the first team that will represent them.
“We have engaged mobile phone operators both in Zimbabwe and Botswana. Through the SMS platform, the supporters of the participating teams will send to the selected SMS code to vote for their players to feature in the first Eleven,” said Setshedi.
She also mentioned that the tournament and sponsors launch functions are set for 5 and 7 July in Harare and Francistown respectively. The ground breaking ceremony of the Joy Foundation land will be held on 25 July in Mochudi and the pre-match conference is slated for 27 July.
