Hilma Nalupe
The fundraising match between African Stars and Eeshoke Chula Chula, which was scheduled for Sunday in Windhoek, has been cancelled.
This was announced by the Brave Warriors World Cup campaign committee this week.
The fixture was expected to be one of the campaign’s highlights, drawing supporters of both clubs for a good cause.
However, organisers said they were unable to secure the sponsorship needed to host the event.
“The success of the match depended on sponsorships, without which it would mean the committee would have to spend money that it does not have to host the match. Therefore, it was going to be a futile exercise to host the match without sponsors since the objective is to raise funds – and, secondarily, to provide much-needed entertainment to the football lovers,” said the committee’s spokesperson, Isack Hamata.
He said the cancellation is disappointing not only for the campaign but also for the fans who were excited about what many called a ‘world-class derby’.
The committee thanked African Stars and Chula Chula for agreeing to participate, saying the willingness of both clubs showed the spirit of Namibian football.
He noted that, now that the match is off the calendar, the Brave Warriors World Cup Campaign Committee will now focus entirely on the national team’s upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Brave Warriors will face Malawi on 5 September and then São Tomé and Príncipe on 9 September in Francistown, Botswana.
Despite the setback, Hamata said the committee remains optimistic about the national team’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
“We still believe the Brave Warriors can qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but this journey requires the backing of every Namibian,” he stated.
He called on fans and stakeholders to rally behind the campaign.