Xmas tournaments fever heightens
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday December 19, 2017 15:35
This year, some of the tournaments have seen the introduction of women football and netball.
Amongst others, African Stars Sports Development Centre (ASSDC) will host a tournament in Khakhea village. The ASSDC chairperson, Kitso Dlamini told a media briefing in Gaborone yesterday that the inaugural tournament would be played at Mmabatho Sports Theatre from Sunday ending on December 26. The tournament has received P25,000 from sponsors, with main financier, Capricorn Legal Insurance Services, giving P10,000.
“The aim of the tournament is to identify talent that we normally find in villages like Khakhea. We have taken a deliberate position that each of the participating teams must have two Under-17 players. We want to address our mandate of development,” he said.
Dlamini said development is key to them and at the moment they have produced some young players who play in the Botswana Premier League. He said that gives them hope that the same spirit would be spread in Khakhea. The teams that would be playing at the tournament are Total Aces, Manchester Force, Red Stars, Desert Breeze and Kgwanyape. The winning team walks away with P5,000, a trophy and gold medals while the team that finish second take home P3,000 and silver medals.
Annual Thamaga Christmas tournament organiser, Tiro Lepotokisi said his event would be celebrating 11 years. He told Mmegi Sport that a year after the 10th anniversary, they would be introducing netball.
“Last year we introduced women’s football and as a way of growing, netball has been thrown into the mix. In future, we want to see this event having 10 sporting codes. This is all about sport development,” Lepotokisi said.
He said sponsorship remains a challenge and companies that had promised to come on board last year withdrew at the last minute. He said next year they intend to raise funds and not depend on sponsorships. Lepotokisi sponsors the tournament, assisted by Pro Guard Security and Thamaga Police. The participating teams are Thamaga Swallows, Thamaga Shooting Stars, Tourism, Mmopane SC, Sanyane Celtics, Thamaga Blue Aces, Kgabosetso and Kumakwane United.
In another spectacle, Kgatleng annual festive spectacular gets underway on Saturday at Mochudi Rovers ground. The tournament is in its second year. The organiser, Thuso Palai said he came up with the idea to stage the tournament as an alternative to dikhwaere, which are famous in the region.
“In the first edition of the tournament, we had two teams each from juniors, first division, Kgatleng region and social. This time around, we have included two women teams and also increased the number of participating teams,” he said.
Palai said the main draw cards are Modipane United, Mochudi Rovers, Mochudi Eastern Tigers and Central Fighters. The finals would be played on December 26.
The Tswapong region is hosting MAGODIMO tournament, which kicks off at Seolwane Golden Arrows ground on December 30. Seolwane Golden Arrows, Maunatlala United, Mokokwana Morning Stars, Dinare FC are the participating teams.