FBC CHEER UP WARRIORS
THE Warriors might have missed a chance to get houses, by winning the 2021 AFCON tournament, but they still got a US$35 000 payout from FBC Holdings.
Each member of the Warriors delegation will get US$1 000 in cash.
It’s the package FBC Holdings pledged for every game which the Warriors would win in Cameroon.
FBC Holdings chief executive, John Mushayavanhu, said although the Warriors didn’t match their targets, they still needed to be rewarded for winning a game at the tournament.
“I am a very happy man today because what we are gathered here for is a noble cause,” said Mushayavanhu.
“It is a noble cause in the sense that as FBC Holdings, when the AFCON tournament started, we sat down and said to ourselves, is there anything that we can do to spur the Warriors into action and to produce their best?
“And, in that respect, we decided we will then come up with a package to incentivise the team.
“That package included US$1 000 for every win and we then said if you bring the AFCON Cup home, you will get houses.
“Unfortunately, the Warriors were not there when the announcement was made but we did ask the team from the SRC to send pictures of the houses.
“However, things didn’t quite go as we had envisaged. Yes, the Warriors exhibited spirited performance in their match against Senegal.
“That is actually the match that prompted us as FBC Holdings to act and I remembered on the day that I actually said the Warriors are going to win 2-0 against Malawi because I could see a very committed team.
“But, football being football, it didn’t happen the way we expected it.”
He said their performance against Guinea showed their respect for their country.
“Nonetheless, you didn’t come home emp- ty-handed. You won against Guinea and because of that we are going to honour our pledge and we are here today to hand over the cash to the players and technical team.
“The amount that we are paying out today is US$35 000. “Some of you said we are the ones who put pressure on the Warriors to the extent that they eventually lost against Malawi, I would like to beg to differ.
“Actually, I would like to say that because of the sponsorship, this is what spurred them to win against Guinea. “We appreciate that there will always be people who see negativity when there is positivity. “But, as FBC, we are happy to be here to honour our pledge and to serve the Warriors.” He hinted on availing of more sponsorship packages for the Warriors. “You achieved two very important things at AFCON,” said Mushyavanhu. “First of all, the mere fact that you quali- fied for AFCON means that in Africa you are a force to be reckoned with and, secondly, that fact that you won against Guinea means that you are not a team that can just be relegated so we look forward to you going further as we go into AFCON 2023. “We know that you can do it and I think this time we will be announcing our sponsorship in good time so that as you are preparing you will know that this is what is in store for you.”