CHAMPIONS Dynamos’ participation in the African Champions League next year has been thrown into uncertainty after their principal sponsors BancABC advised them they would not be able to bankroll their African Safari campaign.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Dynamos have until tomorrow to confirm their participation with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on their participation, but after a meeting with the sponsors on Wednesday, the champions were mulling a pullout.
Dynamos were crowned Zimbabwe champions for the third successive season on Sunday after they beat challengers Highlanders and Harare City to the finishing line on superior goal difference in a very close race decided on the last day of the league programme.
As champions, Dynamos were expected to take part in the African Champions League, but the club leadership yesterday doubted their ability to take part in the prestigious competition because of lack of sponsorship.
Club chairman Keni Mubaiwa said they met with their sponsors BancABC to map the way forward after they lifted the PSL crown, but nothing materialised with regard participation in the African Champions League.
“We met our sponsors BancABC over participation in Africa, but they advised us they were not in a position to sponsor us in the African Champions League. It’s a major blow because we cannot afford to participate in the tournament without sponsorship. We have until Saturday (tomorrow) to run around and look for sponsorship. If we fail to tie down a sponsor by Saturday, we will inform Zifa that we would be unable to take part in the tournament,” Mubaiwa said.
He, however, said BancABC undertook to continue bankrolling their operations on the domestic front as they have been doing.
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They are negotiating for a new deal as their three-year deal expires this year.
It is understood Dynamos were asking for $1,5 million from the bank. Dynamos had earlier this year considered taking a break from participating in the continental tournament following their lacklustre performance which saw them exiting the tournament in the first round. Zifa have until tomorrow to register two teams for next year’s African Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup respectively. While Dynamos gained entry courtesy of winning the Castle Lager PSL title, How Mine who play Highlanders in the final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup tomorrow have been picked to participate in the second tier Confederation Cup because Highlanders will not be able to take part in Africa even if they win the knockout cup because they are still serving their ban in continental competitions. As of yesterday Zifa were not yet sure who they would register with the continental soccer mother body. Caf this week released a statement to all national associations stating the regulations for the registration of the teams that will take part in the inter-club competition. “All affiliated national associations per the interclub regulations have a deadline of November 30 2013 to confirm their clubs’ engagements in the Caf Interclub competitions (Orange Caf Champions League and Orange Caf Confederation Cup) for the season 2014. “Any association who wishes to participate in the competitions shall send to the Caf secretariat an application accompanied by the admission fee of $300, and the application must reach Caf by mail, fax or e-mail not later than the November 30 2013. “For the players’ registrations, a complete list of maximum 30 players must be registered or submitted to the Caf secretariat before the December 31 2013. It can be amended, but after January 15 next year, the list becomes final and no new players can be added nor replaced. “However, national associations which registered less than 30 players earlier in January may be allowed to complete its list to 30 players after the 1/8th round (between July 1 and August 5 2013) provided the additional list does not exceed seven new players.” Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa has, however, been asked to identify players he would want to use to beef up his squad in preparation for next term.
