Katima Mulilo
With the festive season just around the corner, it’s that time of the year again with the popular Masokotwani Community Cup getting ready to take centre stage.
The maiden edition of the fast growing community cup was held last year in December, which attracted large crowds who came en masse to witness the amazing dribbling skills of highly gifted young footballers from that neck of the woods.
Destroyers Football Club are the defending champions having demolished all adversaries en route to the final last year and are determined to retain their title in great fashion. The ultimate objective of the sports gathering is an initiative by the local community to promote and bring back the spirit of togetherness, social cohesion and healthy lifestyles through sports.
The tourney promises to grow in leaps and bounds as it enters its second year and the committed members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) have been burning the midnight oil to make the event a big success.
Prizes have been increased while the number of participating teams have been expanded as well, with many other sporting activities added to the programme to make it an unforgettable spectacle for both players and supporters.
In the inaugural edition last year, the tourney was restricted to football only but organizers have included netball for this year’s event. The two-day competition gets underway in earnest on December 19 and will be spiced up by dozens of off-the-field activities, including dance groups and tug of war during the break for each match.
The tourney offers an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the growing interest in football created by the EPL and other leagues across the world.
The demographic location of the Masokotwani area makes the tourney an ideal vehicle to mitigate crime and hostility at the start of the busy Christmas season, and to enhance the image of the area among the local community.
Financial donations from community members not only demonstrate local support and involvement but also provide an impression for visitors from outside that Masokotwani is indeed a united and peace-loving community.
Approximately 500 boys and girls from the age groups between 9 and 18 will be joined by school teachers, officials, coaches, team managers, referees, volunteers and parents, for the event.