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Lizwe Sweswe

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO Football Club could be on the verge of a huge sponsorship deal following reports that giant South African pay per view television station Supersport have expressed interest in partnering the rural Matabeleland North-based Premiership outfit.

According to sources, the South Africa-based broadcaster was apparently impressed by the club’s fairytale rise from the dusty grounds of rural Tsholotsho to the green turf of Barbourfields Stadium and wants to use the club as an inspirational story to market its brand in Zimbabwe, on the continent and beyond.

“It’s rather something still in its infancy and confirming it now will not be good for the (ongoing) talks. However, it looks like Supersport wants to first see if the club survives relegation before pouring its resources, but this is naturally an exciting development whether it sees the light of day or not, that such a corporate giant even considered partnering a club as small as Tsholotsho,” said the source.

The premier sports broadcaster fully owns South African Premiership side Supersport United where former Dynamos defender Kaitano Tembo is in the coaching structures.

Tembo played for the Pretoria-based club before acquiring his coaching badges.

Supersport communications manager Clinton van der Berg referred inquiries to the broadcaster’s head of marketing for Africa, Itumeleng Senne, who said she had not heard anything about the project.

“I’m not aware of such a venture, but will escalate your query to my bosses,” said Senne in a brief response to Chronicle Sport’s inquiries.

Tsholotsho FC is owned by businessman Mandla Manyathela and won promotion into the Premiership after scooping the Zifa Southern Region League with just a single loss last season.