FBC Holdings Group have increased the Zimbabwe Open golf tournament package from US$ 150 000 to US$200 000 and retained the naming rights of the premier annual tournament set for Royal Harare Golf Club early next month.
One of the country's top financial institutions FBC has increased its investment in the tournament since the group assumed title sponsorship three years ago.
And the latest increase in the purse ultimately makes it one of the top three events on the Sunshine Tour.
FBC Holdings group chief executive officer, Trynos Kufazvineyi announced the new sponsorship package at the launch of the FBC Zimbabwe Open at Royal Harare on Wednesday.
“Today we are pleased to announce that the FBC Holdings has sponsored US$200 000 towards the 2024 FBC Zimbabwe Open. It is gratifying to retain the Zimbabwe Open title sponsorship for the third consecutive year. The Zimbabwe Open attracts top golfers from across the world. The sporting event plays strategic role in guiding socio-economic development through promoting sports tourism and building international relations,” he said.
“I am here filled with a deep sense of pride as we gather to announce the 2024 FBC Zimbabwe Open golf tournament. it's is a true honour to be before you today as the title sponsors of this event which is one of the highlights on the Zimbabwe Sports calendar.
“On of the FBC Holdings group has been to develop golf Zimbabwe as evidenced by our sponsorship of the Zimbabwe Open Golf tournament, the Africa Region V Golf tournament and the All-Africa Golf Championships so we have always been active in promoting golf in Zimbabwe.
“As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy our thrust is informed by evolving stakeholder and community needs as we endeavor to make a contribution towards the achievement of national regional and global priorities that are informed by sustainable development goals.
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“Last year FBC invested over US$600 000 in various community driven initiatives which included but not limited to the construction of a biogas digester, provision of farming implements and also paying school fees for children at Shungudzavana Children's Home in Mhondoro. we also constructed a classroom block at Gurungweni Secondary School in Chikombedzi amongst various other initiatives," Kufazvineyi added.
This year event would be the 12th edition since the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe Open in 2010and will run from May 5 - 12 and will include a ProAm event in the run up to the main championship.
A total of 144 golfers, including 35 local professionals are going to part in the tournament.
Some of the top golfers that will fly the country's flag in the competition include brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent, Robson Chinhoi, Ben Follett-Smith and Stuart Krog among others.
The Zimbabwe Open Committee chairperson Livingston Gwata expressed gratitude to FBC Holdings Group and other partners for supporting the country's flagship golf event.
“It gives me great pleasure as the chairman of the Zimbabwe Open Committee to launch the 2024 edition of the FBC Zimbabwe Open. We are looking forward to a successful 12th national tournament in this series. We are most grateful to our sponsors FBC Holdings and their partners who have committed their premier brand to our premier golf tournament.
“You may be interested to know that our international and local players consider this event as one of the top on the Sunshine Tour. That is a very special accolade considering that the Sunshine Tour is the biggest Tour on the African continent,” he said.
