By Tatiana Mhararira
The stage is set for an electrifying football match in Masvingo as FC Wangu Mazodze prepares to take on Tenax FC in a highly anticipated Pacific Storm Cigarette Company sponsorship unveiling match on March 29, 2025 in Mucheke Stadium.
The match is promising to be an unforgettable experience for football enthusiasts in and around Masvingo city.
The Pacific Storm Cigarette Company’s support is a significant boost to the league, enabling Eastern Region Soccer League (ERSL) to provide better resources and opportunities for players, coaches and clubs and the league will be called the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League.
In an interview with TellZim News, FC Wangu Mazodze spokesperson Blessing Kwesha said they looked forward to win the match despite the teams having a history of parity.
“As a club, we are excited to playing this match since it is our first time to be playing the sponsorship unveiling match. We are playing against Tenax FC which has a history of displaying good football.
“We are looking forward to the challenge and as a club we want to rate our performance to see how far have we prepared for the upcoming season. So far from all our preseason matches we have been winning and we expect to win this biggest match before the season commences,” said Kwesha.
“We need to get this trophy and medals home the Kingdom Boys are already preparing for this tough match with the hope to grab the win. We are ready to give it our all and make our fans proud,” he said.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services’ Tenax FC, on the other hand, is not to be underestimated. The team has been gaining momentum in the preseason training and the team is geared for the match set before the 2025 ERSL season kick off on April 5.
Speaking to TellZim News Tenax FC Vice Secretary General responsible for Media Liaison and Publicity David Marufu said the team was prepared to face the Kingdom boys and they had no fear.
“Our match with Mazodze is not going to give us much of pressure. We are taking it as our pre-season match and we just have to go there and test our armory for 2025. Games against Mazodze have always been tricky and the good side of it will rake the day.
“However as Tenax we are known as perennial fighters and we don’t give in to opposition so easily. Just as our nickname speaks for itself. We are the Lion- (Chauya Chikara), our motto this season is ‘Either We Win or We Win’ meaning we have told ourselves that nothing short of history will stop us from winning each game of the season,” said Marufu.
Marufu applauded the Pacific sponsorship and said it will go a long way in motivating all the clubs in Division One.
“The sponsorship package for the ERSL is a much welcome development for our league given that, we have been for decades playing without any sponsorship only fighting for the single top honor.
“Now that there is this sponsorship it implies that, as ERSL, every team will go out there not only fighting for PSL glory but for something to take home by the end of the season, either as teams or individual players whose performance will be outstanding. So it’s a neck bite neck affair this season,” said Marufu
“Generally the sponsorship will bring competitiveness in the league as there is something to take home. This on its own motivates teams and players for performing beyond expectations and helps develop the sport,” he added.
The two teams got the opportunity to play this unveiling match because in the 2024 ERSL since they ended up on position two and three.
The match has generated significant buzz, with fans from both teams eagerly looking forward to the encounter.
The first 5 000 supporters to arrive at the stadium will receive a free Pacific Storm t-shirt and entrance is free.
The event will also feature entertainment from the Chill Spot Family, including Fantan, Levels, and Ndunge Yut.
