The 2019/20 season of the Mascom Top8 has been officially launched and as per the norm teams which finished on the top eight of the national league last season will once again line up in contest for the lucrative cup tournament. However this season’s edition comes up with improved cash incentives which are likely to serve as an enticement to teams which failed to qualify for the tournament to pull up their socks for next season. Key amongst the improvements is the prize money which has been increased from P1.3 million to P1.4 million- a significant rise of P100 000.As it stands Mascom Top 8 remains one of the most lucrative sports tournament in the country in terms of sponsorship and prize money.
In addition man of the match performances will now attract a prize of P5000 which marks a P1000 increment from last season prize .With the tournament set to trade under the new tagline of #Dzo Duza kwazo kwazo, a new trophy for the competition also comes as a new package for the tournament. The player of the tournament prize have also been increased from P50 000 to P55 000.
However Jwaneng Galaxy is expected to start the defense of their title on the weekend of 22nd -24th of November when they take on Gaborone United. The two mighty clubs met last year in the final therefore the fixture promises to be a mouthwatering encounter since it will be a repeat of last season’s finale. Therefore The Reds will be looking for revenge to dump Galaxy early out of the competition.
From the eight teams which are the participants in the tournament five of them have already won the competition in the past 8 years. GU, Galaxy and Township Rollers have both won two titles each in the last years while Orapa United and BDF XI have clinched one each. However the cup still remains a challenge for northern based clubs since it is Orapa United which remains the only side from north of Dibete to have won the title. Even in this season 9 of the tournament The Ostriches remains the only side from northern Botswana in the competition, the rest are southern based teams.
Quarter final Fixtures
Orapa United vs Security Systems
Molepolole City Stars vs Township Rollers
Jwaneng Galaxy vs Gaborone United
BDF XI Vs Police XI