By Engel Nawatiseb
TSUMEB
The Namibian Football Association (NFA) Technical Director Seth Boois says he has spotted great talent amongst the Under-13 players that participated in the “Built It” soccer tournament at Tsumeb over the weekend.
He said the vigour and determination displayed by the young players throughout the one-day tournament served as inspiration and conviction that a great future holds for the Brave Warriors national team.
Speaking to New Era, Boois noted that the continued support to the Under-13 and Under 15 sides would mould and groom the youngsters to translate into future professionals of the country.
“I was very impressed by their composure and dribbling skills. The passes were first class, they maintained greater concentration, turned with the ball, built it up and rolled the ball timely. That was impressive throughout the tournament,” he said.
The tournament was sponsored by the “Built It” company, with the playoffs being extended to all towns with the company’s branches in the country.
The Tsumeb branch manager Awie Coetzee could not hide his joy after the successful completion of the tournament.
“Never before did I come close to observing young footballers at play. Their performance was just fantastic and we mean serious business with our association with this kind of tournament. This effort should not be interrupted at all – it makes us feel proud to realize our social responsibility towards our communities,” he stressed.
The company donated trophies, sports gear as well as building material at a cost of close to N$8 000 to the winning team, runners-up and the winning school to expand their school classrooms.
One lucky supporter of the tournament got 20 bags of cement sponsored by the company.
The tournament coordinator and Oshikoto Youth Development Coach Max Johnson commended the NFA for their commitment towards youth development in various regions of the country.
He added that although the initiative was introduced a little bit later than anticipated, the seriousness and dedication by the young players are likely to accelerate the rate of their growth into football maturity levels.
“The boys have arrived. They are now consuming volumes of their soccer careers from the tap of wisdom. The next level of support should now come from their parents who should attend matches and cheer on their children. Without their presence the morale will slow down and devalue this magnificent effort,” stressed Johnson.
The Tsumeb English Medium Primary School scooped the first place, winning against the Nomtsoub Primary School team in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1.
A record 20 schools from the entire Oshikoto Region participated in the tournament.