Zimpapers Logo

PSL marketing manager Rodwell Thabe and administrative assistant Zanele Siziba at the organisation’s ZITF stand yesterday

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
THE fledging Premier Soccer League is exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair for the first time. This comes a year after Zifa also exhibited at the country’s premier shop window.The colourful PSL stand was yesterday attracting a lot of attention with pictures of the country’s top teams and players. Also on display was the Mbada Diamonds won by Highlanders FC and the Castle Lager retained by the country’s most successful club, Dynamos last year.

Rodwell Thabe, the league’s marketing manager said they were happy with the response they were getting from the public. He said a number of people were stopping by and making comments that he said will assist the organisation to improve the local game.

“To be honest the response has been impressive. Some have dropped by to commend us for the good sponsorships and partnerships we are getting as a league.The past three seasons have seen a number of companies come on board as a result of good management. We hope to continue to do well so that our clubs and football benefit,” he said.

He said many people wanted to find out what the league was doing right which other sports bodies were not.

“We are telling them that the secret is simply adhering to good management techniques. The information we have gathered from workshops in Kenya, South Africa, Supersport and locally have also helped us as the PSL to improve,” said Thabe.

He said many companies had also shown interest in sponsoring the league.

“A good number of companies want to be associated with the PSL brand. We have told some companies to consider coming on board as partners instead of being sponsors and the response has been tremendous,” said Thabe.

He said some visitors to the stand wanted to find out why clubs and other football entities were not coming up with replica jerseys that were specifically designed for women. The women, he said, expressed interest in wearing local clubs’ jerseys saying they were also soccer fans.

Among the PSL’s sponsors and partners are Castle Lager, Mbada Diamonds, Chibuku Super, NetOne, Supersport, Yo!Africa, Econet and afrosot.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Football Association is also exhibiting at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
National association spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they were also happy with the response they were getting from the public.

He said Zifa will tomorrow hold a meeting in Bulawayo with the business community and several other interested groups. He said the details regarding particpants to the indaba will be made public today.

“We are eager to build bridges and spruce up the image of the association. We want to engage again so that we work together as a nation to build the Zimbabwe football brand,” said Gwesela.

A new board was voted into office recently but has not been well received by the ordinary people and the political leadership.