Local businessman pays it forward

Bramfischerville business owner, Solomon Leshabane was driven to unearth talented township soccer stars and giving back to the community that supported his business over the years. He identified an unused open field opposite his pub which set his dream in motion and he has not looked back since.

He bought the land and started a winter soccer games tournament which has became one of Soweto’s biggest soccer tournaments.
Leshabane converted the open space into a soccer field and hosted the debut Tsalanang Soccer Games in 2013.
Over the years, the tournament has grown and this year, 48 teams are competing for the R 100 000 first prize and R 20 000 for the tournament runners up.

Although the tournament is hosted once a year, Leshabane is encouraged when he sees the community using the once discarded open field.

The soccer ground is often used for physical activities like soccer matches and as an exercise facility for the elderly.
he said, “‘I’ve knocked on a number of doors to secure sponsorship for this year’s tournament.
“Hollywood bets, Score, Coca Cola, Department of Sports Arts and Culture and Kellogg’s are on board.”
He said they want the teams to start taking this tournament seriously and make their tournament a competitive.

Leshabane said the teams paid R 2 000 affiliation fee to be included in the tournament and this inspired competing teams to up their game when they compete on the soccer field.

The Department of Sports Arts and Culture representative in region C, Msimelelo Mtabane was ecstatic about being part of this soccer tournament.
“We provide support and sponsorship with soccer kits and soccer balls in Region C for this tournament,” said Mtabane.

Coca Cola representative, Jerry Kgalushi said that they have been part of the tournament for a long time and are proud to be part of this growing event.
“We will be at the action venues running World Cup 2018 promotions in Russia.
“We urge people to support this tournament as great items such as scarves and headsets will be on promotion” said Kgalushi.

He said due to the large number of teams in the tournament, they ended up cutting the teams and refunding the entrance fees in order to accommodate only 48 teams. Leshabane said the tournament is currently in the knockout stages, eventually they will have the last 16 teams competing in the upcoming weeks.

He promised a winter of football every weekend in Bramfischerville until the final which will be played on July 22 at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Phase Two.

Leshabane invited the community to also give support to the Tournament’s Masters games that are running concurrently with the winter games. He said that on the last day of the Tsalanang Games, the Masters will be also playing their final.