20 Jul 2022

Football can be used to promote and empower small businesses, a trait that Sunday soccer tournaments have been able to achieve.
“Soccer has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire and unite people in some way and it speaks to people in the language that they understand,” Moshupa/Manyana MP, Karabo Gare, said this at a football tournament dubbed Re-Mmogo in Moshupa over the President’s Day holidays.
Four Moshupa-based teams, Kgabosetso Masters, Moshupa Masters, Mathaithai and Tsunami social clubs battled it out for Re-Mmogo championship organised by Kgabosetso Masters.
Gare said such tournaments should be developed into vibrant opportunities that could aid other sectors to create alternative source of income.
The MP commended the efforts made by the organisers for creating a platform for the informal sector to do business and create income alongside the tournament.
He said such interactions were critical for businesses to thrive as an opportunity for small businesses to market their products and be known.
“I would like to encourage small businesses to partner with Sunday soccer organisers while at the same time bringing other activities that can grow the social economic income for the benefit of the village,” he said.
Gare, therefore, challenged the teams to take advantage of such opportunities and develop a habit of creating platforms to enable small businesses to advertise their products during Sunday tournaments.
He said lack of marketing and advertising contributed to most businesses’ financial woes adding that such an expo was a perfect opportunity for businesses to showcase their goods and services.
“Informal sector is a key component in the economy of the country as the profit that they earn as bread winners makes a huge difference at their homes,” he said.
He, therefore, commended the organisers of their efforts in embedding such initiatives in their tournament.
“There are also a lot of opportunities in arts and culture that Batswana can seriously tap into, which can also be lodged for consideration under this tournament for the benefit of our people,” he said.
For his part, Kgabosetso Masters public relations officer, Oabile Thibelang, said he was pleased that the tournament had grown over the years, since its inception in 2019.
He shared that the tournament was held four times each year, adding that the consensus was that each year one of the four teams would host the tournament and therefore given the leverage to come up with any initiatives that they deemed desirable during the tournament.
Thibelang indicated that this year they deliberately partnered with small businesses with the view of creating a platform for them to advertise themselves.
He shared that, they also decided to take engage their MP with the realization that he would identify the challenges affecting small businesses in the village and advise them on best practices in order for them to succeed.
“The main purpose of Re Mmogo Tournament is to entertain soccer lovers whilst at the same time providing a platform to showcase and do business, with the hope of growing businesses in Moshupa,” he said.
Thibelang said they were yet to identify a beneficiary for the proceeds realised and they will do that through consultation with the Social Welfare Department.
Moshupa Masters walloped Tsunami Social Club 3-1 in the finals to be crowned champions, grabbing the floating trophy and the gold medal.
Initially Tsunami defeated Kgabosetso Masters 1-0, with Moshupa Masters beating Mathaithai 2-1.
In the losers final Kgabosetso Masters beat Mathaithai 5-4 in the penalties after a 1all draw in the game, therefore attained consolation of a bronze medal at position three. ENDS