Barolong Farms host Motang Tlou soccer challenge

The 4thAnnual Motang Tlou Soccer Challenge will return to Barolong Farms from 26th until 28th December. This year the format has been more inclusive as all teams in the Barolong area have been given an equal and fair chance of participating in what is dubbed the “Barolong Premier Top 8 Soccer Tournament”.

The finals of the tournament are expected to be played on the 28th December 2018 in Good Hope. The format is a knockout tournament played in 3 days where the winner will receive  P7500.00 in prize money, a floating trophy and 20 gold medals for the team and its technical staff.

Other teams are expected to get consolation prizes as per the stage they have reached in the tournament. One of the tournament organisers Kennedy Motang said: “In this year’s tournament the organisers have introduced an SMS voting line through the support of VIB Mobile where an average of 42 teams in the entire Barolong region have fiercely participated.”

Motang said voting lines are expected to close this Sunday at midnight, adding that tournament organisers are expecting the SMS voting campaign to help in raising funds to pay for a few of the administrative costs. “The Top 8 teams will then be finalized after counting verifications have been done.” The tournament is the passionate Motang’s initiative to provide soccer entertainment during the festive season in the Barolong Farms region.

“The options were not there for Barolong as the only entertainment available has been traditional choirs. Motang said the tournament was first launched in 2014 and was sponsored from his own pocket.” It was way of giving back to the community and nurture talent that exists in the Barolong area. His love for football dates back to when he was young and a staunch supporter of Township Rollers, Kaizer Chiefs and Arsenal. 

Motang explained that he has experience in marketing local football and this has come in handy when organising the tournament. “I want to help identify talent and see it playing in the elite leagues of Botswana and possibly outside the country.” This year a few friends have begun to see the good in this initiative and expressed interest in assisting through any form or means.

Meanwhile Motang said they would have wished to invite South African football legend Doctor Khumalo as a guest during the finals but budgetary constraints could not allow.