Monos Fork out US$123 000

Sport
ZIMBABWE’S CAF champions’ league representatives’ treasurer Bekitemba Ndlovu says Monomotapa has so far forked out US$123 000 to fulfil their Champions League fixtures.

ZIMBABWE’S CAF champions’ league representatives’ treasurer Bekitemba Ndlovu says Monomotapa has so far forked out US$123 000 to fulfil their Champions League fixtures.

“Up to this day we have used around US$123 000 towards the team’s champions league commitments which include hosting the visiting teams, air fares and hotel expenses for the away matches,” Ndlovu said.

Monomotapa, who last week qualified to play in the mini league phase of the tournament after beating Ivorian giants Asec Mimosas, say securing sponsorship is a big problem but their main sponsors have continued to rally behind the team making it possible to fulfil fixtures. These include businessmen Lysias Sibanda and Solomon Mugavazi and also the Watsol Company of Zimbabwe.

Monomotapa, the second Zimbabwean team after Dynamos to go as far as the mini-league stage of the Champions League, hope that the soccer governing body Zifa support the team in its daunting campaign.

“Zifa have not helped us yet but we hope that since  we have now qualified for the mini-league stage, they will unveil some form of financial package before the league resumes in June,” Ndlovu said.

“However a number of people have come up with various ideas on how funds can be raised for the team before Champions’ League games resume and it is my hope that these ideas will yield results.”

Playing in the Champions’ League has proved a big strain on the club’s financial resource, said the treasurer.

“This is so because we were already struggling to pay salaries and bonuses for our league matches and now we also have to reward players for playing in the Champions league.”

Ndlovu however said the club had settled all overdue payments and players were not owed any money.

BY KUDZAYI TIGERE