This year's edition of the Masawe Soccer Tournament will be the biggest ever in terms of the number of the participating teams and the sponsorship amount. The tournament was officially launched during a ceremony held at the Masawe Car Wash in Vondwe village last Friday.
Unlike last year, where only eight teams took part in the tournament, 38 teams from all over the Vhembe District will do battle for the championship in this year's event.
In his keynote address the sponsor, Mr Masala Ramaphosa, said that the tournament had been founded in 2017, with a cash prize of R3 000 for the winners. This year's champions will become R12 000 richer, apart from the floating trophy, gold medals, 15 pairs of soccer boots and soccer kit they will again be presented with.
The runners-up will receive R8 000, a soccer kit, silver medals and a soccer ball. The third- and fourth-placed teams will be presented with R4 000 and R2 000 respectively. They will again each receive a soccer kit. Teams booted out of the tournament in the quarter-final stage will each go home with R1 000 and a soccer ball.
The draws for the opening matches were conducted during the ceremony. The opening matches will be played at the Makhuvha SK New Look Grounds, while the final will be played on Monday, 26 December.
During the ceremony, the deputy president of the Safa Vhembe Regional League, Mr Ephraim Singo, appealed to the representatives from the clubs to behave well throughout the tournament. He reiterated the fact that acts of misconduct had the potential to bring the organisers and the sponsors into disrepute.