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The much-awaited 4th Annual Donate A Pen Soccer Tournament is back, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever before. The tournament will run from 24-27 December 2025 at Old Fetakgomo Sports Ground, bringing together 16 teams in what organiser Itumeleng Mampuru calls “a celebration of football and giving back to the community.”
“Nothing much has changed from our side, we just had a pool of new teams joining this year, which means the tournament is enticing to people,” says Mampuru. This year’s tournament has attracted several debutants who are ready to make their mark, including Makgema FC from Stydkraal, Pyramids, Amajita, Tjate Reeds FC, Shitra, and Matlou FC.
“We have all these new teams this year and we don’t know what they bring to the tournament. Maybe we can have new champions again this year,” adds Mampuru optimistically.
The defending champions Lerajane United are on a mission to make history. No team has ever won this tournament back-to-back, but they face a mountain to climb. Their biggest threat comes from last year’s semifinalists Colombus FC, who are among the favourites to lift the trophy this time around.
The two powerhouses are expected to meet in what promises to be a blockbuster second round clash on Thursday, 25 December at 2.30pm.
But this tournament is about much more than just football. “The drive and the motive has always been the same, to get more sanitary towels and try to keep kids engaged in sports during these festive times,” explains Mampuru.
Each team pays an affiliation fee of R750 plus 10 sanitary pads, ensuring that the tournament continues to support young girls in the community while providing quality football entertainment.
“We believe that for a short period of time, a lot can be changed in terms of perspective. Some could be exposed to their immediate role models and this could help bring about a new dimension to things, especially when it comes to alcohol and substance abuse,” says Mampuru.
Despite the tournament’s growth and community impact, the organisers still face challenges. “In terms of sponsorship we are still struggling to find any. People whom we find always ditch us at the end, so we are just relying on ourselves,” admits Mampuru.
One match that stands out is the clash between Donate A Pen FC and Fiato FC, scheduled for Thursday, 25 December at 4.30pm. “We call this a game of the tournament because it consists of two teams that always donate more to this initiative. A game that is more about giving back and building brotherhood,” explains Mampuru.
The stakes are high this year with attractive prize money that will surely motivate the teams to give their best. The winning team will walk away with R8,000, while the runners-up will receive R4,500 and the third-place team will pocket R2,500. This prize money structure ensures that the competition remains fierce throughout the tournament.
The tournament has drawn a diverse group of teams from across the region. Among the participating sides are established teams like Phasha Callies, Shitra, Colombus, and United, who have all competed in previous editions. They will be joined by Esithembiso, who have shown great potential in recent years. The newcomers to the tournament include Pyramids, Amajita, Tjate Reeds FC, Toros FC, Lavino FC, and Mokhulwane FC, all bringing fresh energy and unpredictable playing styles.
The tournament will also see the return of some familiar faces in Donate A Pen FC and Fiato FC, the two teams known for their generous contributions to the community initiative. Matlou FC and defending champions Lerajane FC round out the field, along with the debutant Makgema FC from Stydkraal, who will be eager to make an immediate impact in their first appearance.
The action kicks off on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, with the first round of matches. Esithembiso will take on Phasha Callies at 10.30am in what promises to be an entertaining opener. At 12h30, Pyramids will face Mokhulwane FC in a clash between two teams making their tournament debut. The afternoon will see Amajita square off against Lavino FC at 2.30pm, before Tjate Reeds FC and Toros FC close out the opening day at 4.30pm.
Thursday, 25 December brings the second round of fixtures, starting with Shitra taking on debutants Makgema FC at 10.30am. United will then battle Matlou FC at 12.30pm in what could be a closely contested affair. The highlight of the day comes at 2.30pm when Colombus face defending champions Lerajane FC in a clash of titans that could potentially be a preview of the final. The day concludes with the much-anticipated game of the tournament as Donate A Pen FC meet Fiato FC at 4.30pm.
The tournament will conclude on Friday, 27 December with the finals.
As the festive season approaches, the Old Fetakgomo Sports Ground is set to become the centre of football action, community spirit, and giving back. Will Lerajane United make history, or will new champions emerge? Only time will tell.
This tournament continues to prove that football is more than just a game but it’s also a platform for positive change in our communities.
For more information, contact Mahlako on 078 865 7054.
