Stanbic Bank is headlining the sponsorship of the Central-South Africa Hockey Qualifiers for All Africa Games (AAG) 2023 through a ZWL 18 million outlay.
The qualifiers are pitting Zimbabwe (men and women), Nambia (women), Zambia (men) and Malawi (men and women) at the event which is taking place at St John’s Educational Trust Astro Turf.
The winners for both men’s and women’s teams will qualify for the All Africa Games set for Ghana in August next year.
Hockey Association of Zimbabwe President Grant Campbell said Stanbic Bank had taken care of the biggest expenses of the 5-day event which kicked off on Wednesday and ends on Sunday.
Campbell said the association had an obligation to transport the players from the airport to their respective hotels upon arrival into the country as well as take them from the hotels to the match venue and back all throughout the tournament.
HAZ was, however, facing financial challenges to see this obligation through and was grateful to Stanbic Bank for bailing them out. Said, Campbell:
The biggest expense for this tournament is transport for the players and Stanbic Bank has been fantastic by taking care of that bill for us and they have made our efforts to run the event much easier. Effectively Stanbic Bank is the main sponsor of this tournament.
He said 10 teams were initially scheduled to take part in the tournament but two pulled out thus making some funds meant for transportation free for other use. This helped smoothen the running of the tournament.
Stanbic Bank was also the main sponsor for Zimbabwe Under 21 ladies hockey team during the Under 21 junior world cup held in South Africa in December last year.
Stanbic Bank Head of Brand and Marketing, Palmer Mugavha said the leading institution was pleased to play its part in supporting sports and in particular helping the nation of Zimbabwe run its sporting calendar of events.