Kakpayili FC and Sabonjida FC made winning starts to the MTN SavannahFest 2026 Inter-Community Football Gala, as community football took centre stage at NOBISCO Park in Tamale on Friday.
Kakpayili edged Tolon FC 1-0 in the opening Group A fixture before Sabonjida FC produced the day’s biggest result, beating Sanzirigu FC 3-0 in the second game.
The two matches marked the beginning of this year’s expanded competition, which features 16 community teams compared with just four teams in last year’s edition.
The football gala forms part of MTN Ghana’s SavannahFest, a community-focused celebration being held as the telecommunications company marks 30 years of operations in Ghana.
MTN Ghana Area Sales Manager for Northern Ghana, Richard Asamani, said the expanded tournament was designed to create a bigger platform for football talent while strengthening community ties.
“This year it coincides with our 30th anniversary and this year it’s bigger compared to last year. We only had four teams, but this year we have 16 teams competing for the ultimate prize,” Mr Asamani said in a pre-match interview.
He said football was deliberately placed at the centre of the festival because of its ability to bring communities together and create opportunities for young talents.
“We know that football is a language. We know soccer is something that Ghanaians love so much. Through this, we intend to foster unity and community development through these football galas and then also unearth talent,” he said.
‘A glimpse of what is to come’
After watching both opening matches, Mr Asamani said the quality of football and the turnout pointed to an exciting tournament ahead.
“We saw very good talent on display in the first game,” he said after the matches. “We could see a very good team cohesion, and this is what we want to see. We want to give people a platform to exhibit the talent that they have and to be able to reach their full potential.”
He described Friday’s action as only an indication of what the remaining matches could offer.
“It only shows a glimpse of what is to come more. If you look at the talent we saw today, if you look at the euphoria of the people that gathered here, it only tells you that it is going to build bigger and better as the days come by,” he said.
The sizeable community turnout also pleased the MTN official, who had urged residents at the launch of the festival to support the teams while maintaining peace and unity.
“You could see that there were a lot of people here, and you could see how enthusiastic they were, cheering their community and supporting them,” Mr Asamani said.
He commended supporters for their conduct, saying the matches were played in a peaceful atmosphere.
“That is what we want to see. That is a good sign, and that is why we ask that there should be collaboration and unity throughout the tournament,” he said.
MTN ties gala to 30th anniversary
Mr Asamani said this year’s edition had been enhanced as part of MTN’s 30th anniversary celebration, with increased prizes and appearance fees for participating teams.
“Thirty years, three decades of connected life, has not come that easy, and it has come through the communities that we have served in,” he said.
The anniversary celebrations also include customer rewards. Mr Asamani said MTN had presented three brand-new Prados to winners in the Northern Sector on Thursday, following earlier presentations in Accra, with further draws still to come.
He urged customers to continue using MTN services and accumulating points to qualify for the remaining rewards, including cash and other prizes.
SavannahFest continues
There will be no football matches on Saturday as MTN stages its music festival at Modern City Hotel.
The community football gala resumes on Sunday, September 20, with Group B and Group C fixtures.
Sakasaka FC will face Kanvili FC at 10am, while Dungu FC takes on Poloya Fong at noon. Later in the afternoon, Gumani FC will play Zogbeli FC at 2pm, followed by Dagbandaba Fong against Lamashegu at 3:30pm.
Group D matches are scheduled for Monday, September 21.
Beyond football, SavannahFest will feature a health walk and free health screening at Jubilee Park, as well as a clean-up exercise at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Mr Asamani said the activities reflect MTN’s broader effort to engage and support the communities that have been part of its 30-year journey.
“Apart from the cars, there are exciting cash prizes and other prizes that can be won,” he said, urging customers to continue participating in the anniversary promotions.
For now, however, the focus shifts back to the football pitch, with Kakpayili and Sabonjida carrying early momentum into the next stage of the 16-team community contest.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
