Matala Fairways were crowned the 2023 Miloane Foundation Soccer Tournament champions after beating Mafofela 3-0 in the final at Abia Ground last Saturday.
This annual community football tournament started two months ago, contested by 16 teams from Ha Abia, Qoaling, Lithabaneng, Lithoteng, Ha Matala and Ha Seoli, according to the tournament’s organiser Mosiuoa Miloane.
He said the participating teams competed in the B and C Division.
Fairways trio coach Keketso Seboka and his two players Thabo Khechane and Sello Macheli dominated the play-offs individual awards.
Seboka was named Coach of the Tournament, Khechane Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Macheli was awarded Best Goal of the Tournament.
Player of the Tournament however went to Lebohang Motanya of Mafofela.
Fairways walked away with the winning trophy, gold medals, playing attire and soccer balls, while the runners up Mafofela got silver medals and playing attire.
The third-placed Makhakheng got bronze medals as well as playing attire, while the fourth-placed Seoli Liverpool received soccer nets.
Seboka said the tournament had improved a lot compared to the previous years.
“The tournament has really improved, the example being that this year Fairways were playing with eight Premier League players and six A Division players,” said Seboka in a post-match interview last Saturday.
Seboka also said the tournament was as well crucial for the survival of these community teams since none of them had sponsorships.
“This tournament is crucial for the survival our teams, if since its inception we got about six playing kits,” he said.
This annual tournament, formally known as Phillip Miloane Foundation Soccer Tournament, started in 2016.
However, it did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The founder of the tournament, Phillip Miloane, who now stays in South Africa, grew up in Ha Seoli, Maseru.
Miloane said he started the tournament with the influence of the former Premier Soccer League (PSL) referee and SABC 1 football analyst, Victor Hlungwane.
“Even though I stay in South Africa but I grew up here, in Ha Seoli, hence I found it necessary to plough back to the community,” said Miloane.
“I decided to start this tournament after reading about Victor Hlungwani’s foundation tournament in the Sowetan Newspaper.”
Miloane and Hlungwani are friends. The latter had the same tournament at his home in Giyani, South Africa.
Hlungwani has always graced the Miloane Foundation Soccer Tournament with his presence and support, including this year. He bought playing attire for this year’s winners, amongst other things.
This year’s tournament was sponsored by Tlhoeko Sanitarily Solutions, Monate Nate Water from South Africa, Phillip Miloane and Victor Hlungwani Foundation, both also from South Africa and Michka Mutombe from Democratic Republic of Congo.