This is not a sports blog and I m not a sports guy but hey this is breaking NEWS!!
IT is now confirmed! Zimbabwe’s Warriors will face world football heavyweights Brazil in easily their biggest international game at the National Sports Stadium next Wednesday.
The match — a rare clash between the Samba Boys and an African team — will kick off at 3:30pm.
A deal to bring the five-time world champions to Harare was officially sealed and unveiled at a Press conference at the Rainbow Towers attended by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Sylvester Maunganidze and the Brazilian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Raul de Taunay.
During the same function, Zifa chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya and Paul Leisegans, a representative of Kentaro, Brazil’s sports agent, officially signed the contract that will bring the Samba Boys to Harare for Wednesday’s clash.
In confirming the game, Mzembi said the Government and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority had, with the support of Zimplats, mobile phone operator NetOne and financial institution CBZ Holdings; succeeded in securing the deal.
Minister Mzembi said Brazil’s visit was also a fulfilment of the objectives and tasks that Cabinet had given his ministry, which included bringing at least one of the 32 World Cup teams to the country.
"It’s now confirmed Brazil will play Zimbabwe on June 2 in Harare.
"It’s the fulfilment of objective number one, which was the luring of teams to come and play in Zimbabwe. The other objective was to increase the number of tourist arrivals in the country before and after the World Cup.
"Through our partnership with NetOne, we will also have fan parks with NetOne funding 16 public viewing points — eight each in rural and urban areas — but the aim is to have the fan park project spread to all the 73 districts.
"Luring teams has been a tall order from the time we travelled to Brazil but as I have said before if you lure Brazil you have lured the rest of the world.
"We will do our utmost to ensure they sample our hospitality and that they will have an experience which they have not had before.
"It will be a tough job to ensure everything is a success and I would like to thank Zimplats, NetOne and CBZ for financing the deal. Govern-ment has also met about 30 percent of the costs of hosting the Brazilians,’’ Minister Mzembi said.
Both the minister and Leisegans insisted the costs of bringing the Samba Boys were not as high as the figures of between US$1,5 and US$1,8 million that had been thrown around.
Leisegans said his company, which is based in Switzerland and has offices in the United Kingdom, was responsible for organising most of Brazil’s international friendly matches.
The match agent said the Samba Boys would arrive in Harare on Tuesday ahead of their clash with the Warriors the following day.
"The deal is signed and we are all happy about it. We have come to a price that I know and I am certain that we are all happy about. The Government of Zimbabwe is happy and we are happy. The deal is 100 percent confirmed.
"But it is far much lower than the figures that have been reported," Leisegans said.
Minister Mzembi also said he was hopeful that more corporate entities would partner the Government in trying to bring more high-profile teams into the country.
"As a country we are limited in terms of resources unless we get syndicated corporate sponsorships for other teams that may want to come, but it is now up to other industries to leverage on the brand.
"But I must say a lot has been happening behind the scenes and about a month ago (Brazilian coach) Dunga was here,’’ Mzembi said.
Dunga and his World Cup squad flew into South Africa yesterday morning with the Samba Boys immediately heading to their base within Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg.
Their ambassador to Zimbabwe De Taunay who flew in from South Africa yesterday afternoon said he had briefly met with Dunga at OR Tambo International Airport soon after the Samba Boys had touched down.
De Taunay said Dunga, Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain, had expressed optimism at the prospects of playing in Zimbabwe.
De Taunay, who has been working closely with Zifa from the time the association hired his countryman Valinhos to coach the Warriors, also told the gathering that he was very happy that his national team was visiting Zimbabwe.
The ambassador said the Samba Boys were also happy with their security in Zimbabwe.
"Your players are very talented and they love their football.
"I believe it was very immense victory for Zimbabwe and the authorities that deal with tourism here because Zimbabwe and Brazil are two countries that have a lot in common.
"Zimbabwe was chosen because of its geography, its technicalities, the security on the streets, the good climate and the good altitude and I am so certain that it will be a good match, the Samba Boys would have to open their eyes otherwise the Warriors will score one or two past them,’’ De Taunay said.
IT is now confirmed! Zimbabwe’s Warriors will face world football heavyweights Brazil in easily their biggest international game at the National Sports Stadium next Wednesday.
The match — a rare clash between the Samba Boys and an African team — will kick off at 3:30pm.
A deal to bring the five-time world champions to Harare was officially sealed and unveiled at a Press conference at the Rainbow Towers attended by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Sylvester Maunganidze and the Brazilian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Raul de Taunay.
During the same function, Zifa chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya and Paul Leisegans, a representative of Kentaro, Brazil’s sports agent, officially signed the contract that will bring the Samba Boys to Harare for Wednesday’s clash.
In confirming the game, Mzembi said the Government and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority had, with the support of Zimplats, mobile phone operator NetOne and financial institution CBZ Holdings; succeeded in securing the deal.
Minister Mzembi said Brazil’s visit was also a fulfilment of the objectives and tasks that Cabinet had given his ministry, which included bringing at least one of the 32 World Cup teams to the country.
"It’s now confirmed Brazil will play Zimbabwe on June 2 in Harare.
"It’s the fulfilment of objective number one, which was the luring of teams to come and play in Zimbabwe. The other objective was to increase the number of tourist arrivals in the country before and after the World Cup.
"Through our partnership with NetOne, we will also have fan parks with NetOne funding 16 public viewing points — eight each in rural and urban areas — but the aim is to have the fan park project spread to all the 73 districts.
"Luring teams has been a tall order from the time we travelled to Brazil but as I have said before if you lure Brazil you have lured the rest of the world.
"We will do our utmost to ensure they sample our hospitality and that they will have an experience which they have not had before.
"It will be a tough job to ensure everything is a success and I would like to thank Zimplats, NetOne and CBZ for financing the deal. Govern-ment has also met about 30 percent of the costs of hosting the Brazilians,’’ Minister Mzembi said.
Both the minister and Leisegans insisted the costs of bringing the Samba Boys were not as high as the figures of between US$1,5 and US$1,8 million that had been thrown around.
Leisegans said his company, which is based in Switzerland and has offices in the United Kingdom, was responsible for organising most of Brazil’s international friendly matches.
The match agent said the Samba Boys would arrive in Harare on Tuesday ahead of their clash with the Warriors the following day.
"The deal is signed and we are all happy about it. We have come to a price that I know and I am certain that we are all happy about. The Government of Zimbabwe is happy and we are happy. The deal is 100 percent confirmed.
"But it is far much lower than the figures that have been reported," Leisegans said.
Minister Mzembi also said he was hopeful that more corporate entities would partner the Government in trying to bring more high-profile teams into the country.
"As a country we are limited in terms of resources unless we get syndicated corporate sponsorships for other teams that may want to come, but it is now up to other industries to leverage on the brand.
"But I must say a lot has been happening behind the scenes and about a month ago (Brazilian coach) Dunga was here,’’ Mzembi said.
Dunga and his World Cup squad flew into South Africa yesterday morning with the Samba Boys immediately heading to their base within Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg.
Their ambassador to Zimbabwe De Taunay who flew in from South Africa yesterday afternoon said he had briefly met with Dunga at OR Tambo International Airport soon after the Samba Boys had touched down.
De Taunay said Dunga, Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain, had expressed optimism at the prospects of playing in Zimbabwe.
De Taunay, who has been working closely with Zifa from the time the association hired his countryman Valinhos to coach the Warriors, also told the gathering that he was very happy that his national team was visiting Zimbabwe.
The ambassador said the Samba Boys were also happy with their security in Zimbabwe.
"Your players are very talented and they love their football.
"I believe it was very immense victory for Zimbabwe and the authorities that deal with tourism here because Zimbabwe and Brazil are two countries that have a lot in common.
"Zimbabwe was chosen because of its geography, its technicalities, the security on the streets, the good climate and the good altitude and I am so certain that it will be a good match, the Samba Boys would have to open their eyes otherwise the Warriors will score one or two past them,’’ De Taunay said.