Mogomotsi Moloi
17 August 2007
Francistown — Mascom Premier League champions ECCO City Greens will host the annual prize giving ceremony tomorrow night at Marang Hotel to award players and officials who contributed to their sterling performance last season.
The team, under the tutelage of Zimbabwean-born Barry Daka, is the first and only side that has won the Premier League title in the northern side of the country. This was despite the fact that they had been in the elite league for only three seasons.
Club's spokesperson Nelson Legwatagwata explained that the awards are meant to motivate the players for the coming season. "It is always good to reward a child if he has done a commendable job. In other words, we want to show our players that they have done a good job and they should continue doing good," he said.
He added that the awards are a form of motivation on their own and would boost players' determination for the future. He declined to give names of the possible winners to be awarded saying the committee assigned for choosing players due for awards has not completed their task. Those to be awarded are most disciplined player, player of the season, most improved young player, top goal scorer and chairman's player of the season. Other sports' persons to get awards are esteemed supporter of the season, best print media journalist and best radio presenter.
While it is obvious that captain Malepa 'Chipa' Bolelang will walk away with the Top goal-scorer award for banging in 18 goals last season, the picture in other categories is unclear. But sources revealed that goalkeeper Michael Onkutule or defender Mothusi Lesotlho might scoop the most disciplined player award. Onkutule has already become successful when he won the 2006/7 best goalkeeper of the season. It is also understood that Under-23 rising star Tebogo Sembowa might grab the most improved player title.
Legwatagwata told Mmegi Sport that they do not make players compete among themselves but arrange such awards for them as a token of appreciation.
COSAFA secretary general Ashford Mamelodi has been invited as the guest of honour and Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Motshudi Raborokgwe is hosting the event.
Mamojadiski, as ECCO City is affectionately known, has become the third team to award outstanding players this season after Gaborone United (GU) and BDF X1 who conducted their presentation ceremonies a few months ago. "This shows that our football has developed. It means that we are copying the right things because this idea of awarding players at club level has not been our tradition in Botswana," observed Legwatagwata.
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