The Botswana football scene is abuzz with the revival of the Mascom Top 8 tournament, now rebranded as the African Hero Top 8. After a nine-season hiatus, the tournament is set to kick off on October 23, 2026. The acting Botswana Football League Chief Executive Officer, Idah Moinisi, hailed the revival as the restoration of a proud football tradition and the beginning of a new chapter in Botswana football.
The African Hero Top 8 promises to be a lucrative competition, with the winner taking home a P1 500 000 prize. Runners-up will receive P750 000, while teams eliminated in the semi-finals will get P200 000 each. Even teams knocked out in the first match will receive a consolation prize of P100 000. Additional cash prizes will be awarded to the Player of the Tournament, Coach of the Tournament, and Supporter of the Tournament, among others.
The tournament will feature eight top teams, including Township Rollers, Gaborone United, Orapa United, and Jwaneng Galaxy, which have collectively won eight of the nine previous titles. The competition is expected to provide an opportunity for these teams to showcase their skills and compete for the coveted prize. Botswana Football League Board Chairman Sipho Showa emphasized that the tournament represents more than just another football competition, but a chance for supporters to watch the country's best teams play against each other in a highly competitive environment.
The launch of the African Hero Top 8 has been welcomed by various stakeholders, including the Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng. He challenged participating clubs to use the tournament to raise their standards. The Minister's sentiments were echoed by Akash Singh, CEO of African Hero, who stated that the company aims to make the tournament something that fans look forward to and players want to win.
The African Hero Top 8 has secured several partnerships, including with Botswana Telecommunications as the Official Connectivity partner, Umbro as the Technical Sponsor, Botswana Television as the Broadcast partner, and Cresta Lodge as the accommodation partner. The tournament is expected to provide a significant boost to Botswana's football ecosystem and help to grow the sport in the country.
The first edition of the African Hero Top 8 will feature several high-profile matches, including a clash between two-time champions Jwaneng Galaxy and Township Rollers. Other matches include Gaborone United vs Nico United, Sua Flamingoes vs Orapa United, and Mochudi Centre Chiefs vs Morupule Wanderers. The tournament promises to be an exciting and highly competitive event that will showcase the best of Botswana football.
The revival of the Mascom Top 8 tournament is seen as a significant development for Botswana football, which has been without a major national competition for six years. The African Hero Top 8 is expected to fill the void left by the Mascom Top 8 and provide a new platform for Botswana's top teams to compete and entertain. With its lucrative prizes and high-profile partnerships, the tournament is set to be a major success.
Key points
- The African Hero Top 8 offers a P1 500 000 prize for the winner, making it the most profitable tournament for participants in Botswana.
- The tournament features eight top teams, including Township Rollers, Gaborone United, Orapa United, and Jwaneng Galaxy, which have collectively won eight of the nine previous titles.
- The African Hero Top 8 has secured several high-profile partnerships, including with Botswana Telecommunications, Umbro, Botswana Television, and Cresta Lodge.
