Botswana hosts retired players' tournament

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Correspondent | Friday November 26, 2010 00:00

 

The tournament is expected to bring together 13 teams from four SADC countries to compete for the P10, 000 prize money. The teams from Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland will be divided into four groups. The tournament coordinator, Harry Koata said this year's event has attracted some of the biggest names in football in the region in yesteryear. From Botswana, the likes of former Township Rollers and Zebras' goalkeeper Thabo 'Mahala' Motang, Keitumetse 'Pio' Paul, Patrick Zibochwa and Clever Hunda are expected to display glimpses of the skills that made them soccer idols in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Those who followed the South African Premier League in the 1990s will be delighted to learn that legends like former Orlando Pirates' goal-scoring machine, Jerry Sikhosana, Pollen Ndlanya, who turned out for the two Soweto giants, Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, will play in the tournament.

All stars who will be participating are aged above 35 years and are no longer active as players.

The games will be staged at Northside School and Maruapula soccer grounds. The winners will receive P10, 000 while the runners-up will get P7, 500. The third-placed team will walk away with P5, 000 while number four gets P2, 500.

There will be prizes for group stage losers, most disciplined club, top goal scorer, best goalkeeper, player of the tournament and the oldest player.

Sponsors of the tournament include Debswana, Botswana Post, Millennium Jazz Restaurant and Botswana Tourism Organisation. Entrance is free. The games kick-off at 9am on both days.