Meshack Motloung

Meshack Motloung

Voting for the Telkom Charity Cup started in earnest yesterday when this most popular tournament on the South African soccer calendar was launched.

Leading the voting chart at 4.30pm were Mamelodi Sundowns with 70 votes, with Bloemfontein Celtic second with 29, Kaizer Chiefs third with 25 votes and Orlando Pirates fourth with 20 votes.

The web page will be updated until July 22 at 8pm and the four teams will be unveiled at a press conference on July 28.

This one-day four-team event that saw the needy benefiting over R30 million since it was incepted in 1986, will be staged at Mmabatho Stadium in Mafikeng on August 2.

The tournament was first sponsored by Iwisa Maize Meal and later by the telephone parastatal since 2001.

Although it will not be played at this venue next year, following the expiry of the contract, organisers are optimistic they will make this tournament one of the most successful in its 23rd staging this year.

Charity Trust chairman Leepile Taunyane said they would move the tournament to Gauteng next season.

"We have signed a two-year contract with the Mmabatho Stadium authorities and we'll be looking around for a suitable venue for this tournament next year," Taunyane said. "Since the staging of this event in North West, our people have enjoyed business benefits in tourism, arts and culture as well as sport, especially bearing in mind preparations for the Confederations Cup and the Fifa World Cup."

Sponsorship manager Zola Nkutha said: "The tournament is expected to generate great excitement and enthusiasm.

"Besides the people's game, charity will ultimately emerge as the main victor."

North West director of communications and marketing Shirley Montsho said: "This will not only act as a powerful economic stimulator, but also complement our objectives of promoting North West Province as a significant home for sports events of this nature and many more."