Eagles Eye Megabucks Sponsorship

30 June 2011

MASHONALAND Cricket franchise have received a double boost ahead of the new season as they close in on a mega bucks sponsorship deal and the signature of former Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura who will be returning “home” this term.

Eagles, who are active on the player market having already signed on Kevin Curran as their coach, are on the brink of signing and sealing a cash injection deal worth a staggering US$4 million with sponsors whose identity is still under tight wraps.

The sponsorship deal dwarfs any single team sponsorship package in any of the major sporting disciplines in the country.

Sources at the franchise told IndependentSport that a deal was imminent after the latest meeting between the two parties on Tuesday evening. c”It’s almost done; the people who will be sponsoring the franchise are into mining among many other interests and some of them have a keen interest in cricket thus they have chosen Eagles,” said the source. “It is a US$4m deal where they will inject US$1m each year which will cover running costs of the franchise, players’ salaries and allowances, maintenance of Harare Sports Club and other costs.”

It is believed Eagles will be getting about US$100 000 per month during the season, double the grant they get from Zimbabwe Cricket which is worth US$40 000.

What this would entail is that Eagles will become a magnet for the best cricket talent in the country with such financial clout and they can also establish their high performance center to develop talent.

Among the top players that may soon get the Eagles flying high again are Chigumbura who returns to the franchise after ditching them late last year to join Masvingo’s Southern Rocks.

Chigumbura told Independentsport that he had decided to move back because he also had other commitments in Harare, chief among them his academy which should start running next month.

“When I joined Rocks last year I had told myself that I wanted to play outside Harare just for one season and now it’s time to go back home,” said Chigumbura. “I also have commitments at the academy to add to that so I have decided that this season I will be playing for Eagles. Last season I just wanted to be in a team where there would be less scrutiny. I wanted to concentrate on my game and now I feel I am ready to go back to Eagles.”

Eagles will concetrate on local players this term and new coach Curran has already drawn up a wish list that includes some of the top players in the country.

The huge cash injection will boost Eagles chances for silverware this season.

AllAfrica – All the Time