Giants gear for Matebejana tourney
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday July 29, 2015 15:22
BDF XI development side, Matebejana, hosts the annual tournament that will take place at the SSKB Stadium this Saturday.
The tournament will be the last pre-season event before the Premier League season kicks off. Chiefs have been very active recently, having taken part in another tournament in Serowe a fortnight ago. BDF XI were also involved in a few friendly encounters in the past week.
The Matebejana tournament kicked off two years ago as a celebratory event to mark 15 years of the existence of Matebejana as a development side. Matebejana general manager, Tico Kamati yesterday told Mmegi Sport that the tournament marked a milestone since its inception.
“When we hosted the tournament in 2013, it was just to celebrate 15 years of existence but we have since decided to do it annually since it helps teams a great deal in preparation for the upcoming season. Last year we even included South African side, Jomo Cosmos,” he said.
Kamati also said the tournament affords their young players a chance to rub shoulders with their idols while at the same time it gives Premier League sides a chance to spot talent.
“Last season we managed to promote about four players from the team. One of the players joined Green Lovers while the other went to Motlakase Power Dynamos,” he said.
The first game will kick off at 8am between Chiefs and BDF XI with Extension Gunners locking horns with Matebejana two hours later.
Tournament winners will take home P5, 000 while the runners up will receive P3, 000. Both the third placed and the fourth will each take home P1, 500. The tournament is expected to guide Chiefs as to who to sign between Patrick Kaunda and Mkhanyiseli Siwahla, ahead of the new season. Both players took part in the Kabelano Charity Cup over the weekend as guest players. Chiefs already have two foreign players, Tendai Nyumasi and Charles Mutero in their books and remain with just one spot for a foreign player. BDF XI are also expected to throw in Malawian striker, Jimmy Zakazaka, who has reportedly signed a contract with the army side.
Regent Insurance Botswana and Vision Sports are the sponsors of this year’s Matebejane tournament.