MOPANI – THE highly anticipated 2014 edition of the annual Pamo Memorial Tournament, popularly known as Pamo Cup, was launched at the Lephepane Child Care Centre in Lephephane on Sunday.
The Pamo Cup is one of the major tournaments in the Mopani district, and is held in December each year.
According to the chairperson of the Kaizer Letsoalo Games (KLG) sports committee, Marupine Sape, the annual tournament was first played in 2009 and had grown over the years.
“This year’s edition is expected to break all-time records in terms of the affiliating teams and spectators. We already have more than 30 teams participating in our tough league,” he said.
This factor alone, he said, would influence the format of the tournament to accommodate all teams interested in participating in the tournament.
“It’s also another opportunity for KLG sports fans to see KLG super and premier division teams do battle in the same competition,” he said.
Speaking sbout the background and history of the tournament, the patron of KLG, David “Kaizer” Letsoalo, said the formation of the competition was inspired by the spirit of local legends, dead and alive, who participated in sport in communities from Lephepane, Khujwana, Tlhabine, Moime, Lenyenye, Rita, Tickeyline-Motlhatlareng to Bokgaga.
“It is true that through the name of the legendary Pamo Magoro, we remember all our legends through a competitive and recreational tournament of this stature during the festive season,” said Letsoalo.
He continued to say that today, the Pamo Cup is thoroughly talked about in various places not only in Limpopo, but in other provinces like Gauteng and North-West.
“As we speak, there are hundreds of people, especially in Gauteng, who already look forward to being part of the tournament’s blissful atmosphere,” he said.
The Pamo Cup is a memorial tournament staged in memory of one of the local soccer stars, Masilo Lukas Maphikiro Magoro, who was known as “Pamo”.
The late Magoro donned the colours of Lephepane Rovers in the 80s. He died in 1994.
“We are fortunate to have seen the generation of the late Pamo Magoro play football. This is the generation that did not have the exposure that we have today, otherwise they would have graced our national television screens playing professional football,” concluded Letsoalo.
The launch included the unveiling of the rules, prizes, trophy and complimentary brand-new soccer sets for the two teams that will reach the finals.
“Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the best three teams respectively. There are also individual prizes for the tournament’s best player, top goal scorer and best goalkeeper in the form of vouchers from the Matlou Business Centre,” said Sape.
The Pamo Cup will kick off in the second week of December.
For more information, contact Sape at 073 242 5265 or the KLG league administrator, Trilly Mogoboya at 082 356 4056.
