MATLAMA thumped Lilala FC of Thaba Tseka 4-0 to clinch the first edition of MGC Soccer Spectacular at Mantšonyane yesterday.
Tse Putsoa reached the final after beating Lioli on penalties 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final having drawn 2-2 while Lilala defeated fellow lower division side Mantšonyane FC 2-0.
In the final, Matlama scored two early goals through Molikeng Makhabesele and Khoanyane Mohale.
Katleho Moleko added the third from the penalty spot and with Makume Theletsane scoring the fourth to hand Tse Putsoa a big win.
The four teams which made it into the semi-finals each pocketed M100 000.
The competition and the Bocheletsane marathon were sponsored by the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC).
Matlama coach Thabile Secker said that winning the cup was a great motivation ahead of next week’s LNIG Top8 semi-finals.
Tse Putsoa are also at the top of the Econet Premier League and are looking to make it a treble of trophies for the 2018/19 season as they have great prospects to win both the league and the LNIG Top-8.
“We are extremely happy to have won the cup,” Secker said.
“It’s a good motivation ahead of the LNIG Top semi-finals. It has surely lifted the spirit of our players to push for more.
“We are also in the race for the league title, so we are all confident of a successful season.”
Secker also praised his fringe players who lived up to the expectations in the absence of four regular players who are on national duty with Likuena. Likuena are set to play a crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away in Cape Verde this afternoon. The team spent a week at a high-performance centre in Pretoria preparing for the match.
“The boys did very well and raised their hands for more game time in our league matches. It really gives me a headache in selection as four of the players all scored in the final.
“It’s however, good for our team to have a bigger pool of hungry players as we are in the crucial stage of the season,” Secker said.
The soccer competition, along with the Cheletsane Half-Marathon were part of the Matekane Group of Companies’ (MGC) celebrations prior the official opening of their Mantšonyane Project set for 15 April 2019. The Mantšonyane Project is the brainchild of MGC founder Sam Matekane where the company has built primary and secondary schools, sports facilities and a church for the community as part of its social corporate initiative (CSI).
Eight Premier League clubs (Matlama, Bantu, Lioli, Kick4Life, Likhopo, LDF, LCS and Sefotha-fotha) were selected to vie for the two semifinal spots of the soccer spectacular.
Tse Putsoa and Tse Nala reached the semi-finals of the newly established tournament after defeating their rivals LCS and Bantu respectively in penalty shootouts two weeks ago.
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