The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Premiership side, Manica Diamonds’ preparations for post Covid-19 resumption of football action went a gear up this week after they struck a kit sponsorship deal with UK sportswear firm, Leyburn Sports.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company-bankrolled team, which recently cleared all salary arrears with its players after a lengthy delay, will have their home gold and black as well as away white and black kits provided by the sportswear firm.
Leyburn revealed the development on their website early this week.
“Leyburn Sports are delighted to announce Manica Diamonds as the latest team to join the brand — starting immediately for the 2020 season. Leyburn will supply Manica Diamonds with a uniquely designed kit which will be released before the forthcoming season,” reads part of the statement on Leyburn’s official website.
The future looks bright for Manica Diamonds given the renovations done at Sakubva Stadium, which is highly likely to see the club cutting on travelling costs as they will be able to use the Mutare match venue as their home ground.
The “Gem Boys” made their Premiership debut in the Zimbabwean top-flight league last season, finishing in fifth place.
The club has seen a meteoric rise, having only been established in 2017.
The latest kit deal sees Manica Diamonds becoming the second team in the league to partner with Leyburn Sports — joining fellow Premier League side, Bulawayo Chiefs.
Founder of Leyburn Sports, Ross Quayle said, “We are delighted to be able to work with Manica Diamonds for the new season ahead. We believe the club has a very exciting future and we are glad to be a part of that. We are really happy to have the opportunity to work with more teams from Zimbabwe — who have clearly embraced Leyburn as a brand. We cannot wait for fans to see the kits we have produced for the club.”
Manica Diamonds vice-chairman, Lovet Wadawareva said, “Manica Diamonds FC is truly delighted to officially announce a partnership agreement with Leyburn Sports, which is a UK-based sports uniform manufacturer.
“We think we are among the highly favoured clubs in the Zimbabwe PSL to have caught the attention of a sportswear manufacturer from the UK at a time when the entire world is groaning under the debilitating impact of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our team will don home and away playing kits supplied by our new business partner who will also be officially selling quality replica jerseys for our team through online trading platforms that will be announced in due course as part of a broad based marketing and brand enhancement strategy.
“We are truly indebted to Leyburn Sports representatives for this defining gesture given the difficulties that corporates and all manner of humanity are going through as the whole world wrestles the invisible and obstinate disease in the form of the coronavirus pandemic.
“May this relationship go on to spur Manica Diamonds FC to dizzy heights in the 2020 soccer season that is yet to commence, but which we are hopeful will happen before the year 2020 comes to an end.
“As Manica Diamonds FC executive, we are enthused to be associated with Leyburn and we are proud that this has come to fruition. We hope that our mutual interests will be fully realised as intended.”
