Etsha crowned COPA Coca-Cola Champs

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Monday July 26, 2010 00:00

 

The dull final ended in a 1-1 draw at full time. It seemed to be heading for a goalless draw until a late second half goal by Mabogo captain Mabogo Diepo who converted from the penalty spot after the Etsha defence committed a foul inside the box.

Etsha did not struggle to find the equaliser two minutes later when Aubrey Elias beat Mabogo goalkeeper Thabo Baloni with a low volley following a free kick.

From then onwards the teams continued with their casual play often clearing long balls with neither side showing any effort to get the decider.

The players looked relieved when the referee blew the final whistle, setting the stage for a penalty shootout to determine the champions. Etsha converted four of their penalties to Mabogo's three to lift the trophy, gold medals and P4, 000 prize money.

Mabogo, the runners-up, pocketed P3, 000 and silver medals. Second-placed runner-ups Letsopa JSS from Lobatse got P2, 000 and bronze medals while Maoka JSS from Gaborone received P1, 000 after finishing fourth. Earlier on during the day, Pandagala JSS from Tutume beat Dukwi JSS 7-3 to be crowned champions in the girls' finals.

The winners and the runner-ups received similar incentives as their male counterparts. Most coaches were however fuming at the scheduling of the soccer games saying it did not give the teams adequate time to recover before playing the next stage, a thing they attributed to a poor showing by the finalists.

They said that the teams play almost every day in the knockout stages after being subjected to playing many games in the group stages, sometimes playing two matches in a day.

The coaches complained that this leads to massive fatigue among the youngsters and end up performing poorly in the latter stages. They called for a review of the soccer schedule for next year's games. Currently soccer is given three days while other sports codes are given two days to compete in the Botswana Integrated School Association (BISA) annual finals.

Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) sponsored this year's COPA Coca-Cola finals to the tune of P1 million.The marketing manager for KBL, Mmabatho Dibe said she was overly impressed with this year's tournament.

She said through the tournament, they are playing their role in helping to unearth raw soccer talent in the country.

Dibe said she was delighted that this year, Botswana attended the COPA-camp in South Africa, which not only teaches the youngsters soccer skills, but helps them acquire other life skills outside the playing field.  Botswana finished second in the Under-19 COPA Coca-Cola tournament that took place simultaneously with the June 11-July 11 FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.