20 Jul 2017

The Gaborone Mayor’s Cup will give premier league teams and new entrants  a chance to try new combinations   and players when Mochudi Centre Chiefs face Tafic in the first semi-final while Extension Gunners will battle

Sharps Shooting Stars in the second semis tomorrow.

Chiefs public relations officer, Raymond Tsheko said they had managed to secure a number of players who they want to blend with experienced players to take the club forward.

“The good thing is that we are playing Tafic, and between us and them is always a good encounter to watch,” said Tsheko, adding that it would be an interesting game to watch.

“We know Tafic, and if they haven’t lost the rhythm they were known for, then we are going to see a beautiful game of football,” he said.

Tafic’s representative, Oletile Chikunyana said his charges were injury free and ready for the Mayor’s Cup.

“We are happy to have been pinned against Centre Chiefs because our hope is to go to the finals against Extension Gunners,” he said.

Extension Gunners PRO, Edwin Mabapa said they would use the cup to give new players a chance to showcase what they could offer the team this coming season.

“This will be the first time Gunners has ever faced Sharps in a competitive match,” said Mabapa, adding that they were tricky customers because they had been playing in the first division and we have been in the premier league.

He said the team was a closed book for them although they used to play friendlies.

“But this is a cup game and our machine is oiled,” threatened Mabapa, adding that Sharps  were going to receive “a baptism of fire,” he said.

Mabapa urged Gunners supporters to come in numbers, saying the ambience of the tournament rested with them.

For his part, Sharps Shooting Stars PRO, Moitshepi Seisa said they were looking forward to playing a team which has been playing in the elite league in order to test their strength.

“It’s a big boost for us to have a mentor who has coached Gunners in Pio Paul,” said Seisa, adding that they have a few quality players. However, he refused to disclose their names and urged supporters to come to the stadium to see wonders.

He maintained that they were ready for the cup and league, “not just to add numbers, but to compete.”

Gaborone mayor, Kagiso Thutlwe said the main aim of the cup was to encourage Gaborone dwellers to test for HIV and other non-communicable diseases as well as to encourage and give teams practice matches for the coming season.

“With this event as the mayor of the city of Gaborone, I am saying to people of Gaborone and Batswana, let us participate in the event to curb the issue of cardiac arrests that befell our sports fraternity in the previous season,” he said. BOPA