17 Aug 2023

Football enthusiasts over the weekend thronged the new Letlhakane stadium to witness the inaugural pre-season tournament comprising all six premier league teams of the northern region.

Sponsored by Lucara Botswana, the tournament saw teams such as Nico United, Tafic Football Club, Sua Flamingoes, Eleven Angeles, Orapa United and Morupule Wanderers battling it out in a thrilling encounter.

Palapye-based Morupule Wanderers emerged victorious at the end of the two-day spectacular football display, beating Nico United of Selebi Phikwe 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.

Another breathtaking encounter was between the fashionable Eleven Angeles and Orapa United, which ended 2-1 in favour of Francistown’s Eleven Angeles, hence position three.

The Northern Big 6 tournament champions, Morupule Wanderers walked away with a trophy, medals and P20 000 prize money, runner ups, Nico United, got medals and P15 000 while Even Angeles was awarded medals and P10 000.

Speaking at the official opening of the games, Lucara Botswana general manager, Johane Mchive said hosting such games was a way of testing the facility before it could be officially opened.

He said so far the turf was up to FIFA standard and had been approved, while the athletics track was also IAAF approved.

Mchive highlighted that events such as the Northern Big 6 tournament or pre-season games could help unearth talent in the north prior to the commencement of the league.

He said back in the days, the northern region was known for producing some of the greatest talents in the country, hence bringing facilities such as the new stadium would help the region back to its glory days.

Orapa United board chairperson, Lefoko Sethoko commended Lucara Botswana for heeding their plea to sponsor the tournament.

He said with such tournaments, the desire was to grow football in the north, adding that pre-season games were also helpful to both players and the technical team for proper planning.

Sethoko also commended other five teams for agreeing to take part in the tournament despite budgetary constraints during this time of the season.

Participating in such events, Orapa United board chairperson said, was also a sign of unity among northern region teams. Ends