MGC Soccer Spectacular – a clash of titans

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – Top four Econet Premier League (EPL) clubs will battle-it-out in the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) Soccer Spectacular at Setsoto Stadium from March 16.

The quartet comprises log leaders Matlama, Bantu, Lioli and FC Kick4Life.

Tse-Putsoa face Kick4Life while Tse-Nala will lock horns with arch-rivals A-Matšo-Matebele on the first day of the tournament.

The main EPL foursome are engaged in the tournament as part of the MGC Sports Extravaganza, which includes a race dubbed the Cheletsane Half Marathon.

The half marathon will be held on March 23 in Mantšonyane, Thaba-Tseka.

As part of the MGC Sport Extravaganza, the MGC Soccer Spectacular kicks off tomorrow in which five Mantšonyane based club will fight for a slot in the semi-final.

Winners will join Mantšonyane United in the semi-final alongside the two ETL teams that would emerge victorious at Setsoto stadium on March 16.

Both the semi-final and final of the MGC Soccer Spectacular will be held in Mantšonyane on March 23.

Each of the four sides that will reach the semi-final will walk away with a purse worth M100 000.

MGC football consultant, Baba Malephane said the overall winners of the tournament will not receive any prize.

This Malephane said is because the teams are in the competition as part of the company’s official celebration for the upliftment of the Mantšonyane area where the managing director of MGC, Sam Matekane originates from.

Besides each pocketing the M100 000 for making it through to the semi-final, the four will also share the gate-takings.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the MGC has constructed a school and church in Mantšonyane.

“As MGC we are doing all these activities through our social investment,” said MGC’s head of corporate, communications and marketing, ’Mamotake Matekane during a press conference held at the MGC Park on Tuesday.

“We have just built a school in in Mantšonyane which we are officially going to open on April 5.”

Matekane further said: “We started by building a church in 2005. This is because Mr Matekane originates from in Mantšonyane and this is his way of giving back to the community that made him who he is today.”

Mrs Matekane further announced that the company had funded the soccer spectacular to the tune of M400 000.

The Cheletsane Half Marathon has been sponsored to the tune of M218 000, with the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) also joining in to bankroll the race.

According to the chief executive officer of LSRC Mofihli Makoele, the sports commission contributed M54 000 towards the half marathon.