Mapalastina shine at the coke awards

| Monday June 7, 2010 00:00

 

Popa, as Rollers are affectionately known, wrapped their magnificent season up by winning the country's only premier knockout cup competition, thrashing their bitter rivals Mochudi Centre Chiefs 3-1 in an exciting final at the University of Botswana (UB) stadium last month.

At the awards, young goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe was declared the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, winning himself a cool P15, 000. Dambe beat Ntungamili Tshoganetso of Extension Gunners and Mompoloki 'Wrist' Sephekolo of Mochudi Centre Chiefs for the award.

Zimbabwean marksman Terrence Mandaza, as expected, went to the awards confident of the P20,000 prize money that comes with the top goal scorer award after netting a total nine goals in the cup competition.

Mandaza, who is currently linked with a move to South African top Premier League side Orlando Pirates, will be smiling all the way to the bank as he is also the be MOBILE Premier League top goal scorer, an award that carries P25,000.

Rahman Gumbo won Coach of the Tournament ahead of recently fired Wesley Mondo of Chiefs and Gunners' mentor Daniel Nare. Gumbo won P10, 000 for the award.

There was tough competition in the Player of the Tournament category where the Rollers' duo of Edwin Olerile and Edwin Moalosi were pitted against Chiefs' whiz kid Sekhana 'Nandos' Koko. Moalosi and Olerile played a significant role in Rollers' triumph in the cup competition.

Despite his team losing to Mapalastina in the final, the lanky Koko has been on fire in the competition, and the Rollers defence could attest to this as he tormented them in the final before his team surrendered their first half lead to Rollers.

At the end of the day, it was the 22-year-old Moalosi who went home with the award, pocketing P20,000 in the process. Many analysts however felt that Koko was hard done by the judges' decision as he was producing fireworks throughout the competition despite his team not winning the cup.

In the media category Tiroyaone Lepotokisi of Radio Botswana (RB1) won both the Best Radio Reporter and Best Radio Commentator, both awards carrying a P5,000 prize money each. Bethani Mando and Nelson Ditibane, both of Botswana Television (Btv) won Best TV Reporter and Best TV Commentator awards respectively. In the print category, Best Sports Writer went to Frederick Kebadiretse of The Monitor while Kabo Lemphorwana of  The Voice won Best Photographer award. Tebogo Ramocha won the Referee of the Tournament award.

Speaking at the awards, Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) director of marketing, Sesupo Wagamang, said they feel humbled to still be sponsoring the country's oldest soccer competition. This year marked the 19th edition of the Coca-Cola Cup and Wagamang said the cup continues growing every year. 

The P6.6 million three-year sponsorship deal that was signed with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) ends next year and Wagamang said they would engage with the BFA very soon to start negotiations for renewing the contract.

For his part, KBL group Managing Director Hloni Matsela said the Coke brand has played a significant role in football development in the country. He said by raising the level of sponsorship, over the years, they managed to enhance the competition and the level of play.

Matsela congratulated the winners, Township Rollers, and wished them luck in the continental competitions next year.

BFA president David Fani thanked KBL for the long-standing relationship, saying it is a testimony of how high they regard each other in the development of soccer in Botswana.  He also thanked the organising committee for a job well done as this year the competition was started and completed on schedule.