Tafo, the reigning MTN Ashantifest Community Soccer Tournament winners, will start defending their championship this weekend when Zone C action gets off at the State Girls Kokoase Park in Abrepo on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1.
Bantama, Suame, and the other former champions, as well as the Abrepo hosts, of course, will test Tafo in the preliminary stage for two spots available from this section to the last 8. Tafo defeated Asokwa 4-1 in the final last year to become the second winners of the competition, which started in 2021 with Abrepo as the first winners.
Zone C’s opening match pits the reigning champions against Bantama, while the second contest pits Suame against Abrepo.
Bantama plays Suame in their respective second games, Abrepo and Tafo square off, and then all four teams play their respective third games—Bantama vs. Abrepo and Tafo vs. Suame—to round out the preliminary round schedule.
In order to thank their devoted clients in the Ashanti Region, MTN launched the community football gala in 2021 with just 8 teams. This event also provides a platform for discovering and fostering potential.
It rose to 12 teams the next year, and this term it was further increased to a record-breaking 16 teams competing over a two-month period, including Ejisu, a team from outside Kumasi.
Ejisu and Amakom, as well as Dichemso and Ashtown, are already through to the last 8 after winning the top two spots in Zones A and B, respectively. The competition is divided into four zones, A, B, C, and D, each of which takes a turn each weekend in an all-play-all battle to determine two representatives for the next stage.
After Zone C this weekend, Zone D will take their turn July 7-8 when the final two tickets to the money zone are on offer for Adum, Santasi, Kwadaso and Atonsu at the Atonsu Astro Turf Park.
“Ashantifest is back. Ashantifest, as you all know, is our annual regional festival created by MTN, aimed at bringing the brand closer to Asanteman and showing appreciation to you, our cherished customers,” said Charles Osei Akoto, MTN Regional Sales & Distribution, Northern Ghana on behalf of the MTN General Manager during the launch in Kumasi on June 14.
Mr Akoto said the competition is getting bigger and better. “You are not just playing for yourselves. You are playing for the communities you represent, an embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of your fans and as such, I encourage you all to give it your best shot” he advised the players and team.
