Big night for Matebele
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Thursday March 27, 2014 12:38
Matebele are the third team to win the tournament since its inception two seasons ago. Rollers won it the first time, while Gaborone United (GU) beat BDF XI in last year’s final. Tonight, BDF XI is scheduled to dominate the awards ceremony after their sterling performance in this year’s edition.
In the race for Player of the Tournament award, BDF XI have two players, Otlantshekela Mooketsi and Kabelo Seakanyeng. The two are competing for the prestigious award against Rollers’ exciting forward, Jerome Louis. Both Mooketsi and Seakanyeng have been marvelous for Matebele in the competition but face a stiff challenge from the Namibian striker who has scored crucial goals. Louis finished the competition as the top goal scorer and is already P20,000. The Player of the Tournament award gets P40,000.
Another BDF XI player, Takudzwa Ndoro will be battling for the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award against Rollers’ shot stopper, Mwampule Masule and GU’s Noah Maposa. The winner walks away with P15, 000.
In the Player of the Tournament award, BDF XI have two players, Otlantshekela Mooketsi and Kabelo Seakanyeng nominated. The two are competing for the prestigious award against Rollers’ exciting forward, Jerome Louis. Both Mooketsi and Seakanyeng have been marvelous for Matebele in the competition but face competition from the Namibian striker who has scored crucial goals for his side. He finished the competition as the top goal scorer and is already guaranteed to walk away with P20, 000. The Player of the Tournament carries away a whooping P40, 000 cheque.
Another BDF XI player, Takudzwa Ndoro will also be battling it out for an individual award. He has been nominated in the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award against Rollers’ shot stopper, Mwampule Masule and GU’s Noah Maposa. The winner walks away with P15, 000. Meanwhile Lekgotla Johannes, Kebafilwe Ratshipo and Keabetswe Dintwa are nominated for the Referee of the Tournament award, while Moletlanyi Keoagile, Bakwena Simankalele and Batsile Letsogile will fight for Assistant Referee of the Tournament. The best referee will get P10, 000 while the best assistant referee will pocket P5, 000.
Elijah Chikwanda of BDF XI has been nominated for the Coach of the Tournament award where his main challenger is Madinda Ndlovu of Rollers. Although he came to BDF XI in the middle of the tournament, Chikwanda maintained the tempo and went on to win the competition and end BDF XI’s 10-year trophy drought. The last time BDF XI won a trophy was in 2004 when they beat Mogoditshane Fighters 2-1 in the final of the now defunct Coca-Cola Cup. Since then, they have lost four finals - three in the Coca-Cola Cup and one in the Mascom Top Eight. Chikwanda has made history as one of the few coaches to win silverware, joining the likes of Stanley Tshosane.
At Rollers, Ndlovu who joined at the beginning of the season and assembled a team boasting of many new faces. Despite having a bad start to the season, his team picked up at the right time to overcome Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United on the way to the final.
Meanwhile, Lekgotla Johannes, Kebafilwe Ratshipo and Keabetswe Dintwa are nominated for the Referee of the Tournament award while Moletlanyi Keoagile, Bakwena Simankalele and Batsile Letsogile will fight for Assistant Referee of the Tournament. The best referee will get P10,000 while the best assistant referee will pocket P5,000.