GOOD times continue to roll for Harare giants Dynamos Football Club after their principal sponsor Gold Leaf Tobacco signed a Sales and Distribution Memorandum Of Understanding with the leaders of the club’s fans in Harare yesterday.
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DeMbare are in the second year of a five-year sponsorship deal with the South African-based tobacco processor through the Rudland & George brand worth ZWL5 million, translating to ZWL1m per year.
The package has since been reviewed upwards to cushion the club from the current inflationary environment.
Gold Leaf Tobacco have been taking care of Dynamos wage bill and all the operational expenses since last year.
This latest deal will see the club supporters playing an active role in pushing sales and raising the market presence of the specific Remington Gold products, one of the Gold Leaf Tobacco brands.
In return the fans are earmarked to benefit a certain percentage of the sales in commission.
Dynamos, as a club, are set to pocket more, in terms of commissions, under this extended agreement where Gold Leaf Tobacco will be selling their Remington Gold products through the club.
Gold Leaf Tobacco company’s representative, Sithabiso Martin said they are happy with their association with the country’s biggest football club and want to see a strong Dynamos emerging again.
“In the last few seasons, it has been disappointing and underwhelming because Dynamos was used to a certain place before, that is at the top. But I am positive because they have now partnered with the right brand.
“We would have loved to host the multitudes of the club’s fans at a larger scale like a stadium, since this is an event for the supporters but due to the current social distancing measures put it place by the government, we could not congregate like that.
“Going forward, we pledge to work well with the Dembare brand together with all the club’s Supporters’ Chapters across the country in pushing both the Dynamos and rebranded Remington Gold brands.
Dynamos Chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa was naturally elated with the extended agreement and pledged his club’s bid to reposition themselves as the leading football brand on the domestic scene.
“This is a momentous occasion which marks the further strengthening of relations between Dynamos Football Club and our anchor sponsors, Gold Leaf Tobacco Company in Zimbabwe,” said Mupfurutsa.
“We are here to witness the power of football and business’ strategic collaboration, a partnership which shall set the tone for the growth of Zimbabwean football for posterity.’’
“Dynamos Football Club is on a business trajectory and we shall strive to turn the club into a business partner of choice through embracing best practices.
“Poor governance and any other vices now have no place at Dynamos Football Club. We believe that we should be at the front-line in the thrust to embrace professionalism through the FIFA Club Licensing framework.
“We would like to be the champions of best practices in Zimbabwe football, making our club an attractive investment partner.
“The progress we have made to date, in terms of attaining good governance benchmarks, has seen our anchor sponsors increase their support for the club and more partners have begun to show interest in partnering our club, locally and abroad,’’ said Mupfurutsa.
Speaking on behalf of the supporters a member of the Dynamos Supporters Association national executive, Mr Benjamin Munzira thanked the Principal Sponsor for the ground-breaking initiative that is set to involve the fans more in the revolution of the club.
“Dynamos remains a source pride to the faithful 7 million or more supporters across the world. We want to thank Gold Leaf Tobacco for coming up with this initiative to engage the fans of the club.
This sales agreement is a win-win, it finances the club, sponsor and supporter given the huge support base Dynamos has.”
In closing, Munzira assured the players, represented by the club captain, that the fans would rally behind the team in a fervent but peaceful manner this upcoming season,” said Munzira.