THE Ba2cada soccer tournament will celebrate 15 years with 32 teams lined up.
The Lesedi FM morning show host presenter and motivational speaker Nyakallo "Ba2cada" Leine (40) told Daily Sun that the aim is to create a professional team for Free State province.
He said this is because the province no longer has a professional team since Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars were sold.
Ba2cada said he decided to host the tournament yearly with his business partner, Kamohelo Mokotjo.
He said five years ago, they decided to form a soccer team called D’General FC based in Botshabelo in the Free State aiming for topflight football.
“The plan is to win the league and promote the team to 1st division. In our fifth season, we're now in the last four of the Nedbank Cup in the province.
"The winner of the last four games will represent Free State in the Nedbank last 32, where we will be playing against 16 PSL and first division teams. This will be huge for the team and the province," he said.
Ba2cada said it's unfortunate that they don’t have government or private sector support.
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He said the purpose of starting soccer tournaments was to bring the scouts nearer to look at the talent from Botshabelo, Free State.
"I realised that for our soccer players to make it, they had to move out of Botshabelo to showcase their talents.
"I then thought it'd be best if I created a big soccer tournament that would give scouts a reason to come see the talent, and it worked," he said.
Ba2cada said the community must also be careful because if kids are not active, they create danger for themselves and the community.
He revealed that the tournaments have achieved many things, with people getting temporary employment whereby 80 security guards, 30 cleaners and 20 referees all get paid for their services.
Ba2cada said the tournaments had allowed several players to be scouted and ended up playing for professional teams.
This year's tournaments are expected to start from 15 to 30 December in Botshabelo with 32 teams.
"The winner takes R100 000, a soccer kit, a cup and medals," said Ba2cada.
