The Southern Region Soccer League has partnered with Pacific Cigarette Company under its Breeze brand.
The competition has been rebranded as the Pacific Breeze Southern Region Soccer League and was officially launched at White City Stadium on Saturday.
To mark the launch, a double‑header kickoff featured Bulawayo City vs Hwange and Nkayi United vs Talen Vision.
ZIFA Southern Region chairman Chris Mtungwazi said the partnership will boost the league’s performance.
“We are anticipating such a big thing going forward, so we as a region are hopeful that this partnership will uplift our football, our standards of the game and also improve our performance nationally as a region,” he said. “The prospects are looking very bright.
“You know, as you can see, we came in months ago and we have secured sponsorship.
“I am sure that the Pacific guys are seeing something in us. They are seeing that maybe with us they can go a long way.”
Mtungwazi called it a win‑win deal.
“This is supposed to be a win‑win partnership and we are confident that we will deliver for our sponsors and reward them for the confidence that they have in us,” he said.
“We are hoping that this could be a precursor of maybe getting more sponsorships.
“This one is the major one that we have secured and they have sponsored the league and the league has been named the Pacific Breeze Southern Region Soccer League.
” We are hopeful that our partnership with them will grow from strength to strength.”
He said clubs will be the biggest beneficiaries.
“This sponsorship has brought in a lot for the teams. It has brought in soccer kits, it has brought in monthly prizes for excelling individual players and coaches.
“And there’s prize money at the end of the year, where the champions will be crowned, they will get a trophy, they will get medals and prize money for the individual players who excel during the course of the year.
“This in itself is a motivation to the players to excel. And we hope that maybe this will uplift our football and make us compete nationally. Yes, we have struggled over the last few years, having fewer teams in the league and in the PSL.”
Pacific Breeze marketing manager Kudakwashe Chiutsi said the partnership creates community opportunities while boosting the brand’s visibility. 
“Initiatives like this bring opportunities to communities. There’s so much talent at the grassroots level, which is why we target Division One. The potential is immense,” she said.
“People appreciate this kind of sponsorship because it inspires them to aim higher in whatever they do.”
She added that the investment supports both brand and community goals.
“For us as a brand, the investment and sustainability are massive.
“We are looking forward to penetrating the southern region, making it a greater division within the league, and ensuring that soccer is appreciated and brings back the unity it always has, and maybe even more.
“Soccer has been one of our high‑yield investment areas. It brings market visibility and, most importantly, consumer engagement.
“It yields into the community, which makes it a good investment.
“That’s what we stand for as a business, challenging ourselves and challenging the community.”
The league is expected to kick off in the coming weeks and promises exciting action.
