ZIMBABWE’S representative in the Caf Champions League tournament Dynamos will attempt to move mountains as they look forward to raise $1,5 million within the next few weeks.
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DeMbare, were left wanting when their main sponsor BancABC dropped the bombshell that there were not ready to assist then in their participation in the lucrative competition despite opening negotiations for a new local league sponsorship deal which is understood to be lucrative this time around.
The competitions have a staggering $1,5 million prize money for the winners.
The Glamour Boys, who in 2008 went as far as the finals of the tournament, have vowed to do anything to raise the much-needed cash to have a decent participation in next year’s edition.
Speaking to this publication from Mutare on Thursday, Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha opened up and revealed that DeMbare needed $1,5 million to get to the finals of the competition.
“We have made up our mind that we are going to go it alone. We drew a total budget looking at ourselves going all the way to the finals and that is the amount that we want. The most undoing factor will be travelling where you would be expected to fulfil fixtures in Central and Northern Africa countries. This will be a big challenge,” Chikengezha said.
The soft-spoken football administrator took that opportunity to unveil packages need at each stage of the competition.
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“We need something like $450 000 for the group stages only whereby we are expecting to play six matches home and away where money to travel and host opponents is needed. After that we will be looking at close to $600 000 to participate in the mini league stage.
“This is the most demanding stage as clubs are usually put in groups of four and one club will have to travel in home and away fixtures. That’s were most of Central and Northern African teams come in.
“The remainder then will take care of the semis as well as the finals. I have not talked of funds that will be used to acquire players for the same cause,” he added.
Chikengezha said as a team, they had lined up a number of activities that would assist them raising most of the money.
“We have lined up a number of activities that will see us raising the large chunk of the money which include high-profile friendly matches which the coaches will also be using as preparations for the tournament. We need to attract big teams which fans would want to watch at all costs.
“We have also agreed to identify a consultancy firm that will spearhead fundraising activities which will include musical shows,”
Chikengezha was optimistic that if all this was done in the right manner DeMbare would go all the way to the finals as long as they performed well in the field of play.
“If we tie all these loose ends I think we will prosper. After all this we will then see what the corporate world has in place for us,” Chikengezha said.
Meanwhile, DeMbare and BancABC have opened negotiations for a new domestic league sponsorship deal which is believed to be more lucrative than before.
“We have agreed on figures. Most of the work has been done and what is left is to put pen to paper,” Chikengezha added.
