As Zimbabwe’s national cricket team advances in international competition, Delta Beverages’ flagship beer brand, Castle Lager, is sending five of the team’s most visible supporters to India in a gesture aimed at amplifying fan presence and national pride on the global stage.

The all-expenses-paid trip will see the supporters known locally as the “Famous 5” from Castle Corner depart Harare on February 24 for Chennai, where they are expected to attend upcoming matches featuring the Zimbabwe national cricket team, the Chevrons.

The group gained attention for their vocal backing of the team during recent fixtures in Colombo, Sri Lanka where the team qualified for the Super Eight.

The five are Leonah Dadirai Tanikwa, Abel Mataranyika, Godwin Ngonidzashe Mamhiyo, Brian Hwenjere and Malvin Nyengeterai Kwaramba.

Delta Beverages said the initiative is intended to connect Zimbabwean fans more directly with the team’s international campaign while reinforcing Castle Lager’s long-running association with national sport.

“Castle Lager has always believed in the power of sport to bring people together whilst creating memorable moments with our consumers,” said Irimayi Muzorewa, the company’s marketing director.

“Supporting the Zimbabwe Chevrons in their quest for success on the international stage is a proud moment for us.”

Zimbabwe’s recent performances abroad have drawn renewed enthusiasm from supporters at home, with the Colombo matches described by local fans as a “fairy tale” run.

By extending that fan presence into India, the brand hopes to sustain momentum around the team’s campaign and encourage broader public engagement.

The sponsored trip includes travel, accommodation and match access, giving the supporters a rare opportunity to follow the team across borders. Delta Beverages framed the effort as part of a wider push to celebrate shared national experiences through sport.

“We believe that every match is a celebration of talent, resilience and national pride, and we are excited to be part of this journey,” Muzorewa said.

Corporate sponsorships tied to fan participation have become increasingly visible in Zimbabwean sport, particularly in cricket, where brands often anchor campaigns around supporter culture and national identity.

Castle Lager has previously leveraged fan-focused promotions and viewing events to reinforce its association with major sporting moments.

The company said the India initiative is meant to inspire Zimbabweans to rally behind the Chevrons during their international fixtures while strengthening the sense of unity that accompanies national competition abroad.

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has announced ProBottlers as its Official Hydration Partner in a two-year agreement valued at USD120 000 per year.

The partnership will see ProBottlers provide water and energy drinks to support all national teams, including the Warriors, Mighty Warriors and junior representative sides, as well as ZIFA’s expanding grassroots programmes across the country.

From training camps and international fixtures to youth tournaments and community festivals, the agreement ensures structured hydration support at every level of the game.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of the recently unveiled BancABC Roots Impact programme, ZIFA’s flagship grassroots development initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing young talent nationwide.

ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi described the partnership as a timely boost for player welfare and performance standards.

“This partnership represents an important step forward for Zimbabwean football,” said Magwizi. “Proper hydration is fundamental to modern sport, and ProBottlers’ support strengthens our ability to prepare, compete and recover at the highest level. We are encouraged by the confidence that corporate Zimbabwe is showing in our vision.”

The USD240 000 investment will directly enhance operational readiness during national team assignments while supporting the health and wellbeing of athletes in development structures.

Access to consistent, high-quality hydration products will assist players in meeting the physical demands of elite football, while also easing logistical pressures during tournaments and large-scale grassroots activities.

ProBottlers Managing Director Rory Harley said the company was proud to partner with ZIFA at a time of renewed momentum in the game.

“Football has the power to unite communities and inspire the next generation,” said Harley.

“We are excited to play our part in supporting Zimbabwe’s national teams and grassroots programmes by ensuring players are properly hydrated and equipped to perform at their best.”

The partnership extends beyond elite competition and into the foundations of the sport.

ZIFA Head of Commercial Mark Ruck highlighted the significance of the agreement within the Association’s broader commercial strategy.

“This partnership demonstrates the growing confidence of the private sector in Zimbabwean football,” said Ruck. “We are building relationships that are aligned with our long-term objectives – partnerships that add real value to the game while protecting and enhancing our commercial ecosystem.”

Zimbabwe are through to the Super Eight of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, securing a historic first progression to the second phase of the global showpiece after their penultimate Group B match against Ireland was abandoned due to rain on Tuesday.

The no-result at Pallekele provided the single point Zimbabwe required to confirm qualification, sealing their place in the final eight with a match to spare.

They will conclude their group campaign against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday.

Zimbabwe’s qualification was effectively built on earlier victories over Oman and Australia – results that left them in control of their destiny heading into the final round of group fixtures.

When persistent drizzle prevented any play and officials called off Tuesday’s match, Zimbabwe’s progression was confirmed.

It marks the first time Zimbabwe have reached the Super Eight stage of a men’s T20 World Cup, underlining a campaign defined by discipline, composure and belief.

The decisive moment came in their victory over Australia – a result that firmly thrust Zimbabwe into contention.

Australia’s subsequent loss to Sri Lanka left them on two points, and the abandoned match officially ended their hopes of advancing.

Ireland, who required victory to keep their slim qualification chances alive, will also exit the tournament.

Attention now shifts to the Super Eight stage, where Zimbabwe face a demanding schedule in India.

They will open their second-phase campaign against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 23 February.

Zimbabwe will then meet hosts India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on 26 February, before concluding their Super Eight fixtures against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on 1 March.

The top two teams from the Super Eight group will progress to the semi-finals.

For a side that has steadily rebuilt its presence in the shortest format, Zimbabwe’s breakthrough represents both a reward for consistency and a bold statement of renewed competitiveness on the global stage.

A major regional endurance event set for Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands next month has secured a prominent health-sector partner, with Cimas Health Group positioning its support for the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multisport Festival as part of a broader shift toward preventive wellness.

Speaking at the official launch in Harare on Tuesday, the group’s chief marketing officer, Manatsa Gaka, said the partnership reflects Cimas Health Group’s evolving role in promoting healthier lifestyles beyond clinical settings.

The company is supporting the 2026 edition through its wellness division, iGo.

“At Cimas Health Group, we exist for one simple but powerful purpose: to inspire healthier communities,” Gaka said, adding that the organization’s mission “is not confined to hospitals, clinics or policies it lives in moments like this, where people choose movement, discipline, resilience and purpose.”

The Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multisport Festival, scheduled for Troutbeck, draws athletes from across the continent and combines swimming, cycling and running events with community fitness activities.

Organizers have framed the festival as both a competitive platform and a public-health initiative encouraging active living.

Gaka said the triathlon’s emphasis on endurance and balance mirrors the health insurer’s long-term strategy.

“The Bonaqua Africa Triathlon represents everything Cimas Health Group stands for endurance, balance, mental strength, physical wellness and the understanding that health is not an event, but a lifelong commitment,” he said.

Cimas Health Group, one of Zimbabwe’s longest-established private health providers, has in recent years expanded investment in preventive care and digital health tools.

The company says its iGo wellness programs aim to help members monitor fitness, nutrition and lifestyle risks before illness develops.

“Our partnership for this event is deliberate, as performance and prevention go hand in hand,” Gaka said.

“When brands with shared values come together, the impact goes far beyond visibility. It shapes behavior, it inspires action and it normalizes healthy choices.”

Health experts in Zimbabwe have increasingly warned that noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are rising, partly linked to sedentary lifestyles.

Corporate-backed sporting events have become a visible part of public messaging around physical activity and community health.

Gaka said the group’s involvement reflects a transition in how healthcare providers define their role.

“As a long-established private health and wellness service provider with a legacy that spans over 80 years of saving lives, Cimas Health Group is evolving beyond simply funding care to actively shaping and improving health outcomes,” he said.

He added that the organization is investing in prevention and digital solutions “that empower people to take charge of their wellbeing every day, not only when they fall ill.”

The triathlon festival, backed by beverage brand Bonaqua and other partners, is expected to bring elite competitors and amateur participants to the Nyanga area, with organizers promoting it as both a sporting spectacle and a wellness destination event.

“We believe that empowering communities begins with fostering wellness, and today we are happy to be supporting the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multisport Festival Troutbeck’s efforts to promote healthy lifestyles through sport,” Gala said.

“The best investment we can ever make is in our health.”

Preparations are intensifying for the 2026 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multisport Festival, as Zimbabwe positions itself once again at the center of African endurance sport and sports tourism.

The annual competition, set for March 14 at Troutbeck Resort in the Eastern Highlands, marks the 12th consecutive year of sponsorship by Bonaqua.

Over that period, organizers say the event has evolved from a niche race into one of the continent’s recognized triathlon fixtures, drawing elite competitors pursuing Olympic qualification points alongside amateur and youth athletes.

Sanctioned by Africa Triathlon and World Triathlon, the Africa Cup race awards world-ranking points, giving Zimbabwe a rare place on the international qualification circuit.

That status has helped elevate the country’s profile as a destination for competitive sport, while expanding local participation in triathlon.

This year’s edition broadens its reach further through the accompanying Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival, a multi-discipline program designed to engage athletes across levels and age groups.

The schedule includes the African Cross-Triathlon Championship, national championships, corporate team challenges and youth events, alongside aquathlon and open-water swim races.

Organizers say the expanded format reflects a deliberate shift toward inclusivity and community participation, alongside continued support for elite performance.

Preparations include additional race categories and strengthened athlete safety and wellness protocols, according to officials who spoke at a Harare media briefing.

The event also highlights the commercial dynamics shaping endurance sport.

Schweppes Zimbabwe is introducing the Powerade sports drink to the local market through the triathlon partnership, positioning it alongside Bonaqua within what the company describes as a performance-focused hydration portfolio for athletes.

For Triathlon Zimbabwe, the federation overseeing the sport, long-term corporate backing has been central to the discipline’s development in the country.

Officials say sustained sponsorship has supported athlete pathways, widened public awareness and helped establish Zimbabwe on the continental triathlon calendar.

The race itself follows the classic Olympic-distance triathlon format: a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer cycle and 10-kilometer run, contested continuously and in that order.

Beyond competition, the Troutbeck setting in the Eastern Highlands has become part of the event’s appeal, combining high-performance sport with destination tourism.

Organizers view that blend as key to the triathlon’s future growth and to Zimbabwe’s broader ambition of hosting internationally recognized sporting events.

With entries expected from across Africa and beyond, the 2026 edition aims to reinforce that trajectory, linking grassroots participation with elite pathways and positioning endurance sport as a catalyst for tourism and economic activity.