05 Nov 2017

The moment of truth finally beckons for football fanatics and it will be a case of no retreat, no surrender in the football fields as last season’s BTC Premiership top 8 finalists sweat it out for the prestigious Mascom Top 8 trophy come November 24.

There is no team that can be referred to as minnows in a cup game as history clearly indicates that none has ever successfully managed to defend the mascom top 8 as only Gaborone United has won the cup more than once.

It is however worth noting that the so called  ‘self-proclaimed heavy weights’ in the local football spheres being Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United all avoided a face off in the early quarter final stage.

With this seasons’ prize money seeing an increase from P1.2 million to P1.3 million it is without doubt that Mascom had raised the bar a little higher and the pressure is mounting on the participating teams to deliver performances that match the prize money.

Kick off for this season’s tournament is expected to be November 24 under the Molepolole Sport Complex floodlights where struggling Mochudi Centre Chiefs will take on the tournament’s defending champions, Jwaneng Galaxy.

The tournament will however officially be launched at the National Stadium on November 25, with a mouth-watering encounter between BDF XI and Township Rollers.

Even though Rollers have been a dominant force in local football, the same cannot be said with regard to their performance in the Mascom Top 8 tournament as they had only lifted the cup only once in the 2011/2012 campaign beating Ecco City Greens with a 3-1 score line despite being tournaments finalists for four times since the tournament's inception.

Speaking at thelaunch, Mascom Wireless chief executive officer, Jose Vieira Couceir stated that Mascom was delighted for having been part of football development in Botswana.

The success of the tournament, he said cannot be mentioned without dedication and commitment of all stakeholders, particularly the participating teams that always ensured that supporters got value for money.

He said it was pleasing to note that the past two seasons saw debutant teams playing in the tournament with Jwaneng Galaxy winning the tournament in its first calling, therefore adding that the pressure might be mounting for this season’s new comers Security System to repeat Galaxy’s heroics.

He said it was clear that the top 8 tournament contributed a lot in promoting the spirit of competitiveness in the league.

Meanwhile, other tournament fixtures include Security Systems against Orapa United at Lobatse Sport Complex on November 26 at 3:30pm, while Gaborone United will host Extension Gunners at the National Stadium on November 27 at 8pm. ENDS