THE 2007 edition of the National Sports Awards (ANSA) – a major event on the Zimbabwean sporting calendar – is in doubt as the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) are failing to secure sponsorship following the pulling out of Lyons.

Lyons poured in a then staggering $540million for the staging of the 2006 edition whose winners were announced in March this year.

Though officials at the Dairiboard Zimbabwe subsidiary were reluctant to discuss the reasons of their pulling out, informed sources said the company was not happy with the way SRC organized this year’s event.

“The general feeling within Lyons was that SRC was not being grateful with the way they organized last the 2006 edition of the awards ceremony. As if that was not enough, most of the high ranking government officials whom the company wanted to be guest of honour turned down the offer. SRC have also failed to bring in international icons to grace the occasion and last year they promised to bring in Maria Mutola, but failed,” said the source who preferred anonymity.

Since the Lyons pullout, no sponsor has come on board casting doubt over the staging of the ceremony that has been penciled for February next year.

However, SRC Director General Joseph Muchetere put a brave face over the staging of the event which is penciled for February next year, sources within the sports confirm that relentless meetings with prospective sponsors have yielded nothing.

“As we are speaking now no sponsor trolling body confirmed that no sponsor has been found yet. This is why nothing is happening to suggest that the ceremony will be held.

“Lyons have not been happy with the way SRC was conducting withdrew renew the contract as they were not happy with the way they were treated with government officials at last year’s event,” said a source within the association.

Lyons were first hooked to the awards for sporting excellence when they came as the main sponsors in 2003 but became the official sponsor in January 2006.

The company, a subsidiary of Dairiboard Zimbabwe, invested $80 million for the 2003 awards, $225 million for the 2004 event and upped the stakes to $540million for the ceremony 2006 edition whose winners were announced in March this year. Lyons

Tennis ace Cara Black is the reigning Sportsperson of the Year. Among those who have won it are swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry who won the converted title after her escapades at the Sydney 2006 Olympic Games which saw her winning three medals for Zimbabwe.

The Lyons pullout also comes hard on the heals of Synthesis Cotton who withdrew their sponsorship of the ZIFA Unity Cup whose final was supposed to have been played today (December 22.)

The development led to Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) postponing the tournament to early next year.

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