Zebaldt Ngaruka
The first edition of the Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah football and netball competition is on at the cemetery sports field in Gobabis, Omaheke tomorrow.
Kuveri Tjonga, the competition organiser, told this publication that 24 football and 12 netball teams had registered for the tournament, aimed at empowering youth and keeping them busy.
Namibia’s veteran diplomat, Kaire Mbuende and Swapo regional coordinator for Omaheke, Ruth Kaukuata-Mbura, made N$45 000 available as prize money, in addition to trophies and medals. To register for the tournament, football teams paid N$600 while netball teams needed N$300.
Due to the high number of entrants in the football competition, the teams were divided into two groups: A and B. The first match will be at 07h00 tomorrow, with Gobabis’s historic club Tough Guys facing Renamo Bucks from Okombomi in Group A at the A field.
The second encounter will be between Nampol and Gobabis Masters to be followed by Loop en Val, who will lock horns with Epukiro-based Okatuuo FC.
The Gobabis Town Rangers are pitted against Eastern Chiefs, while Fine Young Stars will face Omaheke United in one of the high-profile encounters.
The Kalahari Lions and Challo and Kinderns will end the proceedings at A field. The Group B matches will be played at the B field, led by Pamue Eleven against Scorpions FC.
This will be followed by Zamalek who face Young Stars in the second match, while Sunshine will meet Desert Rovers in the third encounter.
The two Otjombinde-based teams Stink Water and Botha Eleven will lock horns in a categorized ‘derby’ match.
Omaheke Megasave will take on Romies before Okovimburu battle against Buitepos FC to conclude the first-round matches.
The netball competition will start at the Legare netball courts at 11h30 with Net Divas and Pamue Eleven opening the proceedings.
Otjombinde-based Botha Eleven will face the on-form Fine Young Stars from Erindiroukambe in the second match whereas ACM will take on Afro Queens. The Omaheke United ladies will play Renamo Bucks in the fourth match while Ozonduno face Tjonga Eleven in the last match.
The winner of the football competition will walk away with N$15 000, a trophy and gold medals while the runners-up will pocket N$7 000 in addition to silver medals. Each semifinalist will take home N$4 000 for their efforts. The netball tournament winner will take home N$7 000, a trophy and gold medals.
The runners-up will be N$3 500 richer with silver medals to show for their efforts while the semifinalist will walk away N$2 000 each.
The tournament ends on Sunday.
– zngaruka@yahoo.com