Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
IT’S the richest one-off football game ever played in this country – worth a staggering US$1,5 million in incentives in the event Scottland beat Black Mambas in a ZIFA Northern Region Division One League match at Rufaro.
It might not bring the million dollar incentives today because of some boardroom issues related to an appeal lodged by Karoi United, which might still need to be resolved first.
MWOS also have their interests and if they beat Agama at Ngoni today they will still hope their dreams for the championship are alive.
The Scottland players and their coaching staff know that even that boardroom case might be irrelevant to their cause to secure a ticket into the Premiership if they fail to beat Mambas this afternoon.
There is a cool US$1 million for securing a place in the Premiership, at least 30 Aqua cars for the players and their coaching staff, and more cash rewards of US$10 000 per each member of the team.
The mega bonuses they have been promised, in the event they secure a place into the top-flight league, are simply mind-blowing when it comes to local football.
The US$1,5 million package will also be mind-blowing in many parts of the continent.
Let’s try and put things into context:
· The package will be TWENTY-SIX times more than what the Malawian Super League champions will get this year as prize money. The package for the Malawian top-flight league was increased five-fold this season and the winners will get about US$57 687 in prize money.
· The package will be FIVE times more than the entire improved sponsorship package of the Malawian Super League which now stands at about US$288 437.
· It will be THIRTY-SEVEN times more than the US$40 000 which Zambian champions Red Arrows received for winning their second league title, in three years, this year.
· It will be TWENTY-ONE times more than the US$70 000, in total value, which Red Arrows pocketed for winning the League and Cup double by also winning the ABSA Cup.
· It will be FIFTY times more than the US$30 000 which Red Arrows took home for winning the CECAFA Kagame Cup this year.
· It will be FIFTEEN times more than the US$100 000 that Red Arrows pocketed for winning the League and Cup double in Zambia and the CECAFA Kagame Cup.
This, alone, shows that this is, indeed, a mind-blowing windfall and for a Division One game for that matter.