Pretoria - North West Tourism MEC Desbo Mohono has applauded Bakgatla Ba Kgafela and Bafokeng Communities for successfully hosting group matches of the 14th Confederation of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup.
The group matches took place on Sunday and Monday at Moruleng Stadium and the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
“We are proud that our villages are able to successfully host events of this magnitude. Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Tribal Authority and the community of Moruleng at large were excellent hosts on Sunday for the two opening matches played at the Moruleng Stadium,” said the MEC.
North West Tourism Department on Tuesday said MEC Mohono expressed pride in the arrangement and organization of the matches, and said they gave visitors a true Setswana hospitality.
“Bafokeng also showed that one can have a world class experience while in the villages when they hosted the second matches of the group stages which were played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium,” MEC Mohono said.
She said North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s pronouncement of ensuring that the province brings about much needed economic stimulation in the Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) can only be realized through private and public partnerships as seen through the COSAFA Cup Tournament.
The department said MEC Mohono also urged tour operators to use the tournament as an opportunity to market the province by packaging it for visitors from outside and within the country.
“There should be adequate economic spin offs from this tournament, and one of the key role players is our Tour Operators who will need to package this tournament in order to sell other tourism products which the province has to offer.
“We have a beautiful province and we need to also showcase that during this tournament,” said the MEC.
The MEC has urged communities to go out in their numbers to support this tournament by attending matches at either Moruleng Stadium or Royal Bafokeng Stadium as the tournament continues until 30 May 2015. - SAnews.gov.za
