In an effort to empower community through sport, Maun based companies particularly those operating in the tourism and hospitality industry joined forces to host the third edition of Maun Winter Games soccer tournament during the President Holidays.
The four days tournament which commenced on the 19th July 2025 and ended on the 22nd July attracted multitudes of football fanatics and it was open for both local senior and junior teams.
The main sponsors were Career Dreams and Chobe Holdings, who collaborated with Audi Camp, Wild Bird Trust, Kalahari Breeze Safari, Maun Cresta and Botswana Guides Association (BOGA).
The participating senior teams included Chobe Holdings, Combination Stars, Xaxaba, Flying Eagles, Matomo, Leverkusen and Crocodile FC while Mega FC, Cubs, Wolfsburg and St’ Daniels were competing in the junior team’s category.
Matomo FC were crowned champions of the tournament after walloping Combination Stars 1-0 at the finals walking away with P8 000, while Combination Stars received P4 000. Flying Eagles pocketed P2000 after winning Crocodile FC 4-3 on penalties in the losers’ finals, Crocodile FC were reward with P1000.
Elijah Basinyi of Flying Eagles received the top goal scorer award after scoring six goals, Benny Moreti of Matomo FC walked away with the best goalkeeper award while Kefemetswe Sakasango of Flying Eagles received the best player award.
In an interview, Career Dreams Centre Director Kenneth Karanja noted that this year’s tournament has shown a significant growth in terms of the number of people who attended and the sponsors.
“Through this tournament, our intention is to grow the sport by developing football at grass root level, we have senior teams which have come together with their junior teams to participate,” he said.
He further stated that the tournament was a platform for the youth in Maun to expose their talent. Karanja has commended the Maun business community for making an effort in ensuring that the tournament becomes a success.
Chobe Holdings Chief Operations Officer Kim Nixon has said that their company aims to empower and support the community hence they have sponsored the tournament. He indicated that their team is made up of the players from Chobe Holdings subsidiaries Ker & Downey and Desert and Delta Safaris, noting that their plan is to grow it in future.
Matomo FC, Technical Manager Boyce Pitseyagae has also emphasised the importance of the tournament, stating that it distracts youth from harmful activities by offering a fun and engaging alternative to spending time in places where alcohol abuse is prevalent. He noted that it was through hard work and teamwork for them to have managed to win the tournament.
