The glittering launch of the Mascom Top 8 soccer extravaganza earlier this evening had a lucrative twist!
Over the last five years, it has been a tournament synonymous with the famous ‘Re ja One Metre’ tagline, but as the Mascom Wireless CEO Jose Vieira Couceiro so aptly put it, such is the thing of the past. He said earlier when Season Five of the soccer spectacular was launched at Chez Nicola: “One Metre for what? Re ja P1.2 metre. P1.2 metre is the new One Metre.”
Such words heralded the beginning of a new chapter where the winners of the competition this year will walk away with an increased winners’ prize of P1 200 000. The P200 000 increase was welcomed by all representatives of the participating clubs as a gesture that shows that Mascom was truly committed to the development of football with the assurance that they will continue to sponsor the tournament for years to come.
Mascom has been increasing the prize monies of the tournament with each passing year since inception and the CEO revelled in their efforts to improve their packages when he cited the P25 000 that will be won by the Coach of the Tournament this year whereas the same award carried only P7 500 for the inaugural edition. The tournament’s best player will make away with P50 000 whereas at inception such a winner took P20 000. The top goal scorer will pocket P30 000 from an initial P10 000.
No doubt then that at the end of the tournament in 2016, teams and players alike will be rolling in the money. So too will be the fans as the sponsors also announced various initiatives that will see supporters also make a kill of their own. Orapa United and Gilport Lions will for the first time join in the feast and were fittingly admitted to the prestigious class of the Tse Di Tona fame.
“Please join me in welcoming Orapa United to the Mascom top 8 and as a special welcome to the team they will host the kick-off match in Orapa,” Couceiro added. The first quarter final match is scheduled for October 29 at the Itekeng Stadium in Orapa where United will welcome a struggling Extension Gunners. Township Rollers will take on Police XI on October 31 at the National Stadium while league champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs will lock horns with Gilport Lions. Two-time winners and reigning champions Gaborone United will start their defence of the title against BDF XI on November 1 in Molepolole.
One Metre for what? Re ja P1.2 metre, the new One metre.
