On Friday 18 January 2019, the mayor of Gamagara municipality, Edwin Hantise, took time of his busy schedule to personally congratulate and motivate the Northern Cape Professional Football team at an official send-off ceremony.

The talented team, of which head coach Robert Sebastian is a co-owner, made their Nedbank Cup Last 32 debut appearance. The 2018/19 Nedbank Cup Last 32, kicked-off on Wednesday 23 January 2019. The last game of the round of 32 will be played on Tuesday 29 January 2019.

As overall winners of the Northern Cape leg, the team travelled to Mbombela (Nelspruit) to participate and to challenge their share of the R7-million jackpot.

Mayor Hantise, several councillors and soccer dignitaries, hosted the team at Nando’s in Kathu where a send-off ceremony took place.

“You make us proud. From our side, the support is there guys. I think there were some stumbling blocks with regard to the facilities, but with the intervention, we said, let’s prioritise the team. If they play organised football, then let’s make sure we give them the necessary support,” Mr Hantise said.

Qualification of the team for the Nedbank Cup Last 32 is special in the sense that it was the first time that a team from John Taolo Gaetsewe municipality made it to the annual tournament.

Quizzed on the team’s meteoric success, coach Robert Sebastian said that the team has some of the best players in the Northern Cape. “Look, I’ve been with some of these players for some time. It is unfortunate that there are limited opportunities in the Northern Cape, as some of them are the cream of the Northern Cape crop,” coach Sebastian said. He aimed for a place in the Top 16. “However, I first want to win the first game and then take it one game at a time . . .”