Inaugural Dlala cup in Maun

Bank Gaborone has splashed a whopping P 100 000 towards the Bank Gaborone Dlala Cup football tournament scheduled for Maun this weekend. The sponsorship was launched yesterday in Gaborone. The Bank, in collaboration with Uturndipsy Trust, founded by local football legend Diphetogo Selolwane will host a one day football tournament as a way of raising funds for the trust.

As a retired athlete, Selolwane has embarked on a journey to give back to the local sport fraternity. The former GU player recently opened a football academy in Gaborone where he nurtures young and upcoming football talent.

The tournament will pit BTC premiership giants Orapa United and the red hot Security Systems in the morning while BDF XI will take on Sankoyo Bush Bucks at Maun Sports Complex later on the day. Speaking during the tournament launch in Gaborone yesterday (Tuesday), Selolwane said as retired athletes, they feel bound to give back to the community but often find it difficult to satisfy their dreams due to lack of resources. Selolwane implored the business community to assist retired athletes to give back to the community by tapping into their experienced sport skills and investing in them financially.

Having played professional football for close to a decade, Selolwane said it is disheartening to work whole hard for the country and return to poverty upon retiring.“We just need partners like Bank Gaborone to lift us, there are so many former players out there and they served the country very well. Please do not celebrate them based on how much they made us proud, do something for them,” the former Zebras striker said. Moreover Selolwane explained that they decided on the four teams as they are dressed by one of their partners being Dlala sportswear.

Tickets are already selling at P50 grandstand and P30 elsewhere and expected to be available in Maun starting from today. For his part Bank Gaborone Managing Director Sybrand Coetzee said they intend to build lasting relationships with people through sport. “Football is the most popular sport in Botswana and around the world. The trust is our way of participating in the development of football in Botswana.”