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Zimbabwe: U.S.$200 000 for CBZ FA Cup
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
23 July 2008
Posted to the web 23 July 2008
Grace Chingoma
Harare
CBZ Holdings yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to the development of domestic football when they injected US$200 000 for the 2008 edition of the CBZ FA Cup.
The third edition of the country's biggest knock-out tournament will burst into life with opening round matches scheduled for various venues across the country.
CBZ - who also bankroll the CBZ Premiership unveiled the package for this year's tournament, pegged in foreign currency as a cushion against the hyper-inflationary environment.
The local currency component will be calculated at the prevailing interbank rate with teams being paid a day or two after being knocked out.
The tournament, which will be played for the next three months, will feature 64 teams - 16 Premiership clubs, 24 clubs from the three Division One leagues, 12 clubs from Division Two and as many teams from the Division Three clubs in the country's three regions.
After this weekend's opening round matches, the teams will meet for the second round on the weekend of August 2-3 with the third round pencilled in for August 23-24.
The quarter-finals will be played on September 6-7, the semi-finals on September 27-28 with final scheduled for October 26.
In unveiling the package, CBZ Holdings managing director John Mangudya said their confidence in local football continues to grow adding that they had pegged the sponsorship in hard currency to ensure it would not be eroded by inflation.
"It is our hope that all our partners will share the vision of sports development. It is our pride, vision and commitment and we should ensure that our administration of sports is up to scratch.
"We shall ensure as a group that we will not let the teams down and the prizes should be of value to the winners," said Mangudya.
The breakdown of the prizes is, however, yet to be finalised and the Zifa Competitions Committee has been tasked to come up with the figures.
Although the tournament roars into life this weekend, some Premiership clubs are unlikely to fulfil their first round assignments should they prefer to wait for their players who are on national duty with the Warriors.
The Warriors are expected to leave for South Africa on Friday for a Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Zambia in Mpumalanga.
Zifa left it to the discretion of the respective clubs to decide whether to go ahead and play without their Warriors players or not.
There were, however, some interesting pairings such as the draw that pitted defending champions Dynamos against perennial Northern Region Division One campaigners Douglas Warriors whose owner Douglas Tanya-nyiwa is a staunch DeMbare supporter.
With all the 16 Premiership sides being seeded, it meant that none of the top clubs would clash in the opening round.
For the purposes of the draw, Shooting Stars and Kiglon were drawn as Southern Region sides because of the fewer Premiership teams from that part of the country.
Last year's runners-up Highlanders have a tricky assignment against seasoned Southern Region Division One campaigners Border Strikers.
There should also be a good Bulawayo derby when Sundowns play Railstars while Premiership newcomers Underhill face Eastern Region Division One side Triangle at Mucheke.
Inaugural CBZ Cup winners Mwana Africa have a tough assignment at Trojan against Eastern Region Division One pacesetters Highway.
Mwana Africa, who beat Chapungu 1-0 in the 2006 final, are now under the guidance of former CAPS United and Black Rhinos great Stanford "Stix" Mtizwa.
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CBZ Holdings have also introduced a new award for the most outstanding Referee of the Tournament while retaining such accolades as the Golden Boot, Player of the Tournament and Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
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