Zebaldt Ngaruka
The final chapter of the annual Omaheke Top 8 football competition is set for completion in Gobabis tomorrow at Legare Stadium.
The chairperson of the tournament organising committee, Ngatuuane Hange, told New Era Sport that one of the tournament’s football quarterfinal and semifinal encounters were rescheduled due to the unavailability of stadiums.
“The shortage of sports facilities remains a challenge, and this contributed to the extension of tournament completions,” he said.
The tournament began on the weekend of 08 July 2023, in Gobabis and attracted 30 football and 29 netball teams.
“We are done with the netball category; Otjimanangombe from Epukiro constituency were crowned champions after defeating their neighbours, Red Fire from Otumbonde, in the highly contested final,” he added.
The remaining football teams will start with a quarterfinal encounter between Omitivine’s Fourth Stars and Otjinene-based Secret Stars.
Ovinjuru football team, from Epukiro constituency, will lock horns with Gauteng from Aminuis in the first semifinal.
Another Epukiro-based team, Otjozondjima, awaits the winner between Fourth Stars and Secret Stars in the second semifinal encounter, with the final expected to be played at 17h00 on Saturday.
Hange said the winner in the football category will pocket N$12 000, a trophy, and 20 gold medals, whereas the runners-up will take home N$7 000 and silver medals.
Each semifinalist will get N$3 000 for coming third in the competition.
“I hope the remaining teams use this period as an opportunity to train hard and fight for the top honour,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Gobabis Sports Academy football team and Professional Football Academy’s U/13 teams will play a curtain-raiser match before the final match.
Omaheke’s Top 8 tournament is organised under the auspices of the Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation.