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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE government fully supports the impending $2 million sponsorship package between mobile phone operator NetOne and Zifa, describing it as a good commercial deal from a national company to a national sport.

Speaking at the Bulawayo Press Club, Information, Communications Technology and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira said it was only proper for a national company as big as NetOne to pour its sponsorship into a national and massively followed sport like football.

Responding to a question on what influence his ministry had in the deal, Mandiwanzira said:

“We had no influence whatsoever, but we feel that NetOne must be left alone to make a commercial decision and that decision must be based on whether it adds any value to their business. Our opinion as a ministry is that it’s actually a good thing to have a national company being associated with a national sport,” said Mandiwanzira.

He said the biggest embarrassment has been having national team players and coaches going for long periods without being paid.

“The embarrassment of having our coaches and players not being paid, not earning money and yet we have millions of Zimbabweans who follow football and the national team is a lack of opportunity for anyone who is in the mass market. So if NetOne sees its decision as a business opportunity, we will give them 100 percent of our support.

“We think it’s important that a national sport is supported by a national company as big as NetOne,” Mandiwanzira said.