07 Jul 2024

Minister for State President has sponsored the football and snooker tournament to be played over the President’s Holidays with P150 000.

Speaking during the launch, Kabo Morwaeng, also MP for Molepolole South, said the tournament would feature 18 social football clubs and 24 snooker teams.

He appealed to residents of Molepolole South to attend the games in large numbers saying the idea behind the games was to encourage friendship and unity amongst them.

He said only their presence would make the games, which were now in their seventh year, to be successful, adding they should be held in a friendly environment with utmost respect.

“The games are now part of tradition. Every year at this time of the year, in our constituency we hold this tournament,” he said, promising to continuously make improvements each year.

When the games started, there were only eight football teams and this year, the teams have grown to 18 and snooker has also been included.

Teams are from other villages such as Mmanoko and Gamodubu, in Molepolole South Constituency.

“This is my legacy. I started the games before becoming an MP and they have since grown tremendously,” he said.

MP Morwaeng said the social clubs now had an opportunity to share ideas and build networks and further live healthy lifestyles.

“By adopting healthy lifestyles, the teams are helping in reducing non-communicable diseases,” he said.

He appealed to the clubs to take opportunity during the tournament to address social ills such as gender-based violence, which had tarnished the name of Molepolole.

Morwaeng called upon them to end rape and killing of women when they ended their relationships saying they must understand and accept rejection.

“Let us build a good name for ourselves and refrain from drug and alcohol abuse,” he said.

The MP also decried an increasing cases of cable theft in the village belonging to Botswana Power Corporation and for water metres and therefore appealed to the teams to help fight such crime and alerting the Police where the perpetrators were known.

In his remarks, councillor for Loologane, Motlhophi Leo said the tournament was fruitful as in addition to funds, the games helped lure youths away from engaging in criminal activities.

The winner of the football tournament will pocket P5 000 while the snooker champions will walk away with P2 500. Additionally, all teams participating in the football tournament will receive P3 000 appearance fee.

The P150 000 will also be used for logistics and there will also be individual prizes for best player, best goalkeeper and top goal scorer.

The football games will be held at Lewis and Lephaleng grounds while the snooker tournament will be at Molepolole College of Education. Ends