This allowed more teams to enter, attracted additional sponsors and allowed more supporters to come and support their teams with the final attracting well over 500 spectators.

“Notugre, through its charitable trust the Tuli Conservation Trust, aims to work more closely than ever with the local communities and taking the soccer tournament outside the Reserve is a first step in this process,” explains Trustee Stephen Lansdown CBE.

“Sport, in particular football, brings people together so it makes perfect sense to hold such tournaments in the heart of the communities. This year’s event has been a great success and we are already looking forward to next year.”

The finals on Independence Day were attended Kgosi Berthuel Machete, Chief of Mothlabaneng/Lentswe le Moriti, and Victor Mphee, Deputy Mayor for Bobirwa District, who both expressed pride and delight with the event in their speeches at the closing ceremony.

In an exciting final Merryhill Hungry Lions (Mashatu) retained their title by beating Kwenantle Farm in a penalty shoot. Earlier in the day Tuli Black Vultures (Tuli Safari Lodge) overcame Loensa FC in the third/fourth place play-off. A big thank you goes to all the players, spectators and organisers and especially the sponsors Kwenantle Farms and Notugre who made the tournament possible.

Photos by Rebecca du Toit.