03 Jul 2022

Nico United and Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost the team in its premier league journey.

Through the MoU, the team will be assisted with transport and Sam Sono Stadium will be home ground.

Majombolo, as Nico are affectionately known, were promoted to the elite league after their  success in the Debswana First Division North league.

“We are happy to have a partnership with Nico United,” said the SPTC Mayor, Lucas Modimana during the MoU signing event Council chambers in Selebi Phikwe on Thursday.

Modimana said SPTC found it necessary to work with Nico United despite financial challenges that the council was facing, adding the MoU marked the development of a relationship between the two parties.

He said the relationship would also contribute positively to the development of sports tourism in the copper mining town.

The town clerk, Stephen Motlogelwa, also added that the MoU was not about Nico United but Selebi Phikwe.

He said Nico United’s performance and potential displayed in the Debswana First Division North League convinced management and leadership of SPTC to be part of the team.

Motlogelwa further explained that football was a massive industry that was no longer about recreation but about business, therefore the intention was to ensure that hospitality and informal sector as well as other sectors benefited from football games. He said SPTC would also benefit in the long run through usage of the stadium facility.

Furthermore, Motlogelwa assured Nico United of SPTC’s support everywhere they played their games.  He said they would ensure that the team arrived at their destinations safely and on time.

“This is the beginning of great things and we are going to ensure that everyone associated with this town is on board and going to ensure that this team does not relegate from the premier league,” he said.  Nico United chairperson, ,Busani Sigweni, expressed gratitude and delight for the partnership between SPTC and his team.

He explained that the relationship between the two parties started when the town leadership approached the team for collaborations, promising to hold on this relationship by making the leadership and community of Selebi Phikwe proud.

Sigweni attributed his team’s victory in the Debswana First Division North League to immense support from the people of Selebi Phikwe, SPTC and other stakeholders.

 He said despite the financial constraints faced, the team was able to attend all its away games and were accommodated in hotels. Ends