The defending champions of the Maimane Alfred Phiri Games annual soccer tournament, popularly known as Map Games, have vowed to fight until the end to defend their title in this year’s tournament.
The last 32 games that are set to kick off on 29 June to 21 July this year will see the winners of this year’s tournament taking home R190 000 of cash prize and two pairs of brand-new kit while the runners-up will pocket a R105 000 as cash prize.
Speaking to Alex News during the official draw of the last 32 that was recently held in Alex Mall, the head coach of Soweto Super United and defending champions of the tournament, Mandla Mdakane said their participation in the prestigious soccer tournament has taught them to respect and not take their opponents for granted regardless of their record in the beautiful game.
“Being defending champions of the tournament is more challenging than being first-time participants. We know that all eyes will be on us throughout the tournament. Our past experience in the tournament has taught us to respect our opponents regardless of their history and take one game at a time,” Mdakane said.
The Soweto giants will play their opening match against Hlanganani Football Club who will be participating for the second time in the tournament.
Sphamandla Nxumalo, head coach of the first-time participants of the tournament Nongoma United, said their target was to win the tournament and vowed not make things easy for their opponents. “We respect every team in the tournament but that does not mean that we are aiming low, we want to win this title.
“Our target is to win the tournament, we are not here just to participate and counted as one more team that participated this year.”
In his closing remarks of the draw event, founder of the Map Games and the chairperson of the Maimane Alexandra Development Foundation (MADF), warned participating teams to keep to the rules of the game at all times or face disqualification from the tournament if they fail to do so.
