Bab seek sponsorship Manuel Mpofu
Manuel Mpofu

Manuel Mpofu

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Athletic Board (Bab) have made a passionate appeal to the corporate world, seeking sponsorship packages so that they hold more road races next year.

Bab only had three road races in 2016, leaving athletes clamouring for more long distance races.

The road races held under the Bab banner in 2016 are the PPC 33-Miler, Old Mutual Nkulumane 10km Road Race and the Liquor Hub 10km and 5km Fun Run.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Liquor Hub 10km and 5 km Fun Run, Bab chairman Manuel Mpofu said they have started negotiating with potential partners who can bankroll their events for the coming year.

“The 2016 calendar programme is almost over as we’re done with road and track events. The Liquor Hub 10km and 5km Fun Run was the last major event on our calendar and we’re now moving to kids athletics. This has been a good year for us as we had 12 track and field events, hosted the inter-provincials and had three road races.

“As Bab we would like to have more road races and maintain the number of track and field events we hold. We’ve already started courting some corporates and we wish to have more coming to sponsor long distance competitions,” said Mpofu.

Bab also intends reviving of the Masiyephambili Marathon and the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half-Marathon which were last held in 2013.

“The Masiyephambili was being sponsored by the Bulawayo City Council through their various strategic partners. In the 2013 edition we saw companies coming together for a well-managed Masiyephambili Marathon. PPC sponsored the prizes for the main race that saw winners for both categories taking home $1,500, with the first runners-up getting $600, the third placed athletes $400 while the athletes that crossed the line fourth went away with $300. There was a consolation prize of $200 for fifth placed athletes.

Prizes for the Masiyephambili Half Marathon funded by BancABC were as follows:

$500 for the winners, $400 first runners-up, $300 second runners-up, $300 for position four and $100 for athletes who finished fifth.

“Zimpost sponsored medals with Edgars providing t-shirts while Innscor donated food and refreshments came from Delta Beverages. The leading vehicles for all races were provided by Autoworld with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority funding prizes for the junior relays. Plans are underway to table a presentation to the custodians of the Masiyephambili Marathon, the BCC so that we revive the race,” said Mpofu.

He challenged the corporate world to adopt the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half-Marathon which was previously administered by the JM Foundation.

“The guys from the foundation have been honest with us, they came and told us that they are facing financial challenges and as such they can’t sponsor the race. I believe companies can use the race to celebrate the life of the former Vice-President. We remain hopeful that 2017 will bring more partners into athletics and we will have more races,” said Mpofu.

@ZililoR

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