By Kuvee Kangueehi
All roads will be leading to Keetmanshoop for the 7th edition of the Namibian Newspaper Cup tomorrow. The 13 political regions will be competing for the Namibian Cup, which has, became a highlight on the Namibian football calendar. The teams are expected to leave for Keetmanshoop today as the tournament kicks off on Friday morning.
Nampa reports at the town indicate that the anticipation is growing and excitement mounting from the soccer mad inhabitants of the Karas Region as the kick-off of the Namibian Newspaper Cup to be held here over the Easter Holiday long weekend draws closer. Nampa took to the streets on Wednesday to hear what the home fans are expecting from the competition said to be sponsored at more than half-a-million dollars this year.
Most fans approached were confident that the home ground advantage would propel the team from the country’s southern most region to the final with a possibility to clinch the floating trophy.
Said Pius Kanangura a former player of the local team Black Arrows: “I am confident that we will win this year as the team has been doing well in previous years and even managed to reach the quarter-finals at times.”
Kanangura added that the home crowd support should also play a vital role in the team’s performance this year.
Another southerner, Bonifatius Jossob, was also of the opinion that the Karas team stands a good chance this year but warned that defending champions and close door neighbours Hardap and the Khomas Regions should not be written of just yet.
Many sports fans are of the opinion that the harsh weather conditions in the region should work in the local team’s favour.
Entrance is free.
Newspaper Cup Draw
The draw for the first round on Friday was made at Soccer House and is as follows:
09h00: Omaheke v Oshikoto
11h00: Ohangwena v Khomas
13h00: Erongo v Caprivi
15h00: Omusati v Otjozondjupa
17h00: Oshana v Kunene
Meanwhile, the highlight of the weekend will be the Brave Warriors game against the Namibian Shadow team. The national coach Ben Bamfuchile is taking no chances and has announced a strong squad to take on a Shadow Team on Sunday. All Namibia’s locally-based national team players are in the squad as well as some new players who have performed well in the Namibia Premier League and MTC NFA Cup.
The team has new faces in the form of African Stars defender Maleagi Ngarizemo, SKW goalie Heribert Kapeng and Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Jagger. The trio has shown impressive performances especially in the cup competition and Jagger and Ngarizemo led the teams to the semi-finals.
The Brave Warriors full squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Athiel Mbaha (unattached), Herbert Kapeng (SKW). Defenders: Franklin April (Civics), Jeremia Baisako (Tigers), Michael Pienaar (Ramblers), Maleagi Ngarizemo (African Stars), Ivan Namaseb (Orlando Pirates), Gottlieb Nakuta (Blue Waters).
Midfielders: Letu Shatimuene (Tigers), Jamu Ngatjizeko (Civics), Rudy Louw (Civics), Victor Helu (Ramblers), Rudolf Bester (Eleven Arrows) and Patrick Jagger (Orlando Pirates). Strikers: Ettienne Beukes (Orlando Pirates), Johannes Seibeb (African Stars), Eddy Musweu (Namib Chiefs), Tara and Muna Katupose (Epupa Eleven) and Jerome Louis (Black Africa).
Additional reporting Nampa and Namibia Sport.