Black Leopards, in partnership with MTN, launched the second edition of the Limpopo Baobab Games (LIBA) during an event at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Monday. The games will cater for development teams around the province.

An amount of R100 000 was set aside to sponsor the tournament.

It was hosted last year  by Vhembe at Black Leopards' training grounds and catered for 32 teams. The champion of last year, Zamenkomste United Brothers, received R50 000, a floating trophy, a new soccer kit and gold medals.

According to the brand manager of Black Leopards, Tshifhiwa Thidiela, this year the tournament will feature 30 teams from all the Safa regions throughout the province. Two invitation teams will also participate.

The MTN LIBA games tournament will start on 5 December and end on 16 December at the Seshego Stadium. The champions will go home with R50 000, a floating trophy, gold medals and new soccer kit. The runners-up will bank R20 000, silver medals and a new soccer kit.

Ms Desiree Pooe, senior manager of MTN Sponsorship and Events, said MTN was a proud supporter of local football development "and we undertook this sponsorship primarily to showcase our support for the sport and because it would help us engage with the people of Limpopo."

She said that Limpopo was a  province rich in talent and "we have over the years seen some talented South African  soccer players being unearthed from this province". She said MTN was committed to local football development.

Vhamusanda Vho-Elvis Khorommbi Nemavhola of Safa Limpopo stated that the government could not curb the high rate of unemployment alone. He appealed to the business community to follow in the footsteps of MTN, saying sports had become a major employment provider of late. He defined football as a good vehicle to fight unemployment and poverty.