05 Jul 2018

Pick n Pay Family Stores held a tournament for under 16 soccer players from 14 primary schools in Selebi Phikwe, Mmadinare and Damochujenaa.

Phikwe Primary school soccer team won the tournament and walked away with gold medals and trophy, while Joseph Anderson Primary School soccer team, which got position two, went home with silver medals.

In an interview,  a representative of Pick n Pay Family Stores, Mpho Kenalemodisa said the tournament was held as a corporate social responsibility event meant to give back to the communities in which the stores operate.

He said soccer kits were donated to all teams that participated.

Kenalemodisa said the idea behind the tournament was meant to promote sport and soccer at grassroot level and encourage children to love and enjoy sport.

He said children could use sport to earn a living in future, hence the company had heeded the call to play a role in the development of sport and empowerment of young people in country.

So far, he said the tournament had been held in five regions; Gaborone, Francistown, Lobatse, Jwaneng and Selebi Phikwe.

Currentlt, there are 10 Pick n Pay Family Stores in the country and each store donated 14 soccer kits to 10 different schools, bringing the total number to 140 of soccer kits donated.

Richard Bashe representing Selebi Phikwe East Member of Parliament, Nonofo Molefhi acknowledged Pick n Pay for initiating an event geared towards soccer and sport development from grassroot level.

He said the initiative was in line with government’s move to unearth, nurture sport from a young age.

He said all government organisations, which collaborated with Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration also played a significant role.

He encouraged the young athletes to continue taking part in sport.

Out of the 14 teams that participated in the tournament, only position one and two were rewarded as there was no losers’ final to determine the team that would get position three.

Meanwhile, the player of the tournament trophy went to Harvey Seloko from Phikwe Primary School while the best goalkeeper trophy went to Aaron Manare from Joseph Anderson Primary.

The top goal scorer of the tournament trophy and full soccer kit prize was awarded to Kevin Phalantwa also from Joseph Anderson Primary School. ENDS