THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) yesterday signed a landmark two-year partnership with beverage manufacturer ProBottlers, marking the first time in the association’s history that a dedicated official hydration partner has been secured for national football.
Valued at US$120 000, the deal establishes ProBottlers’ flagship brands—Active8 and H2go Bottled Water—as the primary fuel for all national representative teams.
The agreement covers the senior men’s (Warriors) and women’s (Mighty Warriors) teams, all junior age-group squads, and Zifa’s nationwide grassroots development initiatives.
This strategic move aims to professionalise the sport’s infrastructure and ensure that Zimbabwean athletes have access to world-class physiological support.
For Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi, the partnership is a critical component of a broader mission to modernise the game.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at Zifa headquarters, Magwizi emphasised that the deal is a direct investment in the physical longevity of players.
“Today is a very important moment for Zimbabwean sport, specifically for Zimbabwean football,” he said.
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“They will cover the whole football ecosystem as the official hydration partner.
“This contribution goes beyond product supply; it will be an investment in performance, in player welfare, and in the health and well-being of every athlete who wears our national colours.
“Every young boy and every young girl will be impacted by this partnership where ProBottlers have come on board to help advance football in Zimbabwe.”
Magwizi further noted that the association is moving away from amateur standards toward a more data-driven approach.
“Modern football demands high levels of physical preparation and recovery.
“Proper hydration is very key; it’s never a luxury.
“Following the way sport is going, you understand how everything is becoming more scientific.
“The welfare and health of the player is very, very critical.”
ProBottlers managing director Rory Harley revealed that the decision to commit to a multi-year sponsorship followed a successful trial period during the Under-17 Cosafa Tournament.
Harley cited Zifa’s improved governance as a primary motivator for the investment.
“We began our engagements with Zifa last year in a limited capacity.
“At the onset, President Magwizi spoke of Zifa’s goal of delivering measured value to partners and strengthening governance frameworks,” Harley
explained.
“In our limited first six months, we witnessed the work that goes in behind the scenes.
“I take my hat off to the Football Association; it’s impressive.
“That’s why we’ve been happy to further invest and to open up a two-year sponsorship deal.”
Harley highlighted the functional benefits of the partnership, noting that Active8 was specifically designed to support peak athletic performance.
“Our core mission is performance, endurance and recovery.
“When an athlete exerts physically, their body uses vitamins and minerals, and we seek to replace that through beverage.
“With the right partner, you will see the elite performance that we’re hoping for.
“We hope to see the Warriors emulating what the cricketers have done and attending a World Cup.”
The partnership goes into effect immediately, providing a much-needed boost to the national teams as they prepare for a busy international calendar.
By integrating professional hydration into the grassroots level, Zifa and ProBottlers are literally “hydrating” the future of Zimbabwe football, ensuring that the next generation of stars is conditioned to meet global standards.
The deal is widely seen as a significant victory for Zifa’s commercial department, led by Mark Ruck, as they continue to court private sector giants to revitalise the nation’s most popular sport.
