Soccer Fans in For Treat as Mbada Slashes Gate ChargesHARARE — Sponsors of the Mbada Diamonds Cup have reduced the minimum gate charges for those wishing to watch matches in this year’s edition. Instead of the usual minimum $3 charge, fans will now fork out a modest one dollar to watch matches in the richest football tournament in the country. Mbada Diamonds Corporate Services manager George Manyaya says there is no need for the struggling fans to pay more since his company is footing all the expenses for the clubs. The costs being covered by Mbada include match appearance fees for the players, transport and accommodation for all the sixteen clubs who are taking part in the competition. The 18 players picked by the coach are each paid a $100 dollars appearance fee by the diamond firm. Mbada Diamonds have forked out $1 million to sponsor the tournament with the winners taking home $130, 000 and an additional $100,000 for participing in the Caf Confederation Cup. Premier Soccer League Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Ndebele says fans should expect the highest standards of football as the tournament is coming at the peak of the season. Clubs are eager to win the tournament and represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup. Banc ABC Sup8r finalists Shabanie Mine say the trophy is moving out of Harare. Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi says the trophy is theirs for the taking. Dynamos are the defending Mbada Diamonds champions. The Harare giants also won the competition in 2011.