Chiefs Shine At Premier League Awards

By Mosah Mokganedi
Correspondent | Monday June 16, 2008 00:00

Chiefs won P120, 000 for being champions and were once against awarded P25, 000 for winning being the best-supported team after beating Extension Gunners.

Goal-poacher Oteng Moalosi was voted the Best Player of the Season after outclassing fellow teammate Given Mpundu and Master Masitara of Nico United. Noah Maposa got the Best Goalkeeper of the Season Award, a position he competed for with Raphael Nthwane of Flamingo Santos. Jerome Ramatlhakwana jointly won the Golden Boot Award together with Masitara.

They both scored 18 goals in the league. Other awards were for the Best Referee that was scooped by the youthful Joshua Bondo, beating seasoned referees like Israel Malepa and Israel Ramocha. Moora Silas was voted the Best Assistant Referee, thrashing fellow assistants Phodiso Rasetsoga and Meshack Medupi. Mike Sithole was named the Best Coach of the Season.

In the media categories, 442 Magazine's Monnaakgotla Mojaki beat Mmegi's/Monitor's Tshepo Molwane in the print media award category while Mmegi/Monitor staffers Tsele Tsebetsame and Kebofhe Mathe battled it out in the Best Photographer category. Tsebetsame is the winner.

Finally MacDonald 'Chillyboy' Rakgare of Yarona FM scooped the Best Electronic media award, beating Thuso Palai formerly with  RB1 and Fundy Gaoforwe of RB2.

Speaking at the event, guest speaker and South African based Kaizer Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung applauded Botswana for the strides that the country has made to develop sports. Motaung mentioned players who are plying their trade outside Botswana like Mogogi Gabonamong and Dipsy Selolwane as proof that Botswana football has grown. He added that though geographically a small country Botswana is a giant in football as has been evidenced by some of its citizens who sit in different football governing body structures. 'Tonight you should not just celebrate the Mascom league, do also take this time to thank your self for having made it this far in football in general,' Motaung said.

Motaung also took the time to congratulate former president Festus Mogae who was also present at the ceremony for the peaceful government transition. He contended that Botswana remains a shiny example of good democracy at the time when some African leaders are fighting for power. Motaung also regretted the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa saying they are shameful especially because they came at the time when the country is preparing to host the 2010 world cup. The Kaizer Chiefs' boss assured Batswana that his country is doing all in its power to stop the xenophobic attacks.

Amid confusion and questions as to whether the cellular phone company will renew its contract that came to an end this year, Mascom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jose Viera Couceiro assured the audience that the company is ready to renew its vows.

He said the issue is being taken care of and that all stakeholders will be notified about the development when time is ripe. Couceiro said their three-year marriage has been exciting and that they want to take it to the next level.

He also believed the league grew during their time and that increase in attendances at league matches and gate- takings was testimony to that. Couceiro just like the whole nation expressed hope that there is no better time for Botswana to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 World Cup finals than now.