HARARE – CAPS United’s co-director Nhamo Tutisani is alleged to have rejected Sakunda Holdings’ lucrative deal citing that his club had better deals, local news outlet SportBrief reported on Tuesday.
The local petroleum giant recently announced its entry into football business after penning two mouth watering deals with the country’s biggest clubs, Dynamos and Highlanders.
Dynamos and Highlanders got a combined US$5.3 million deal over a three year period.
In addition to the biggest sponsorship deal in the history of local football, the clubs’ coaches and captains received top of the range vehicles each, with a combined value of around US$200 000.
According to a CAPS United source, Sakunda Holdings wanted to bankroll the three traditional football giants before Tutisani declined the offer.
United’s boss, who is not new to controversy, was again caught offside after it emerged that Sakunda’s initial plan was to take away the financial burden for the big three- Highlanders, Dynamos and CAPS United – but the efforts hit a brick wall when Tutisani shrugged off the golden call.
“Tutisani said his club didn’t have any need for the Sakunda package as he had better deals that were 99% done.
“He agreed to meet guys from Sakunda Holdings but surprisingly he showed up on his own without his co director Farai Jere, who is probably unaware that his partner snubbed the deal,” a highly placed source privy to the developments told Sportbrief.
This is not the first time for Tutisani to block a sponsorship deal. The Green Machine was supposed to receive a 65 seater bus from Nyaradzo Group, who gave them the smaller 22 seater one, but efforts by the funeral services company went in vein the moment the proposal reached Tutisani’s offices.
It is alleged the Makepekepe director sent back a delegation that was sent from Nyaradzo citing their lack of knowledge as he said his intelligence could only be matched by Nyaradzo owners not representatives. The deal eventually flopped.
It is alleged CAPS United was scheduled to receive the same amount as Bosso and Dembare as their sponsorship package for a period of three years, with one Makepekepe legend set to receive a house too.
Although there are reports of change of ownership at CAPS United, it remains to be seen if it was effected as the Makepekepe players are still relinquishing in abject poverty emanating from the club’s failure to fulfil its financial obligations.
Tutisani has however earned himself a bad title in the football circles.
“Its actually a shame to be associated with Nhamo (Tutisani). He is just there to cause chaos and demonstrate bad attitudes.
“He is not financing the club he claim to be his but only there to block when anything good comes to the club,” a member of the Green Machine technical department said.
Reports also suggest that Tutisani was the reason Netone Cellular pulled out of football activities as the former demanded the sponsor to channel funds directly to his personal account so that he can distribute salaries according to his will.
Tutisani, who assume the roles of the Board member Marketing, acting CEO, and spokesperson at CAPS United could not be reached for comment as his mobile could not go through.
Morton Dodzo, the club’s administration manager, did not respond to questions sent to him by this publication.
United missed ten days of training attributing to lack of funding and industrial action by players who refused to report on duty citing incapacitation.
Chibuku Super Cup is set to resume next Wednesday and United’s performance will be at stake.
- SportBrief
