Zebaldt Ngaruka
GOBABIS – Fireworks are expected at the fifth edition of the Omaheke Top 20, featuring football and netball competitions, which will be held at Legare Sports Stadium’s B and C fields in Gobabis on Saturday.
Namibia Rural Sport Development Federation secretary general (SG) Ngatuuane Collec Hange told New Era Sports that the popular Omaheke competition is returning to the region, and top teams from the rural areas are expected to shine in front of their home supporters.
The first football match in Group A will kick off at 07h00 between two Otjombinde sides, Rovers United and Rivers United, and this will be followed by Otjinene’s Okauua Rovers, who will lock horns against Otjimanangombe from Epukiro.
Otjozondjima FC from Epukiro and Okaoveni Eleven from Otjinene will clash in the third match, while another Epukiro team, Otjimati FC, will face their counterparts, Otjiungukua from Aminuis.
This will be followed by Zamalek FC, who will clash against one of the Aminuis’ formidable sides, Gauteng FC.
Another two Epukiro sides, Super Fox and Ovinjuru FC, will lock horns in the last match of group A. Among other matches in Group B, Samuel Eleven will face Okoutjove, Top Score will face Omuhanuua, and Ozombuzovindimba will face Jakaalsdraai FC from Aminuis.
This will be followed by a classified derby match between two Epukiro giants, Okovimburu and Renamo Bucks from Okombomi, while Otumbonde’s Red Fire will play against Aminuis’s Otjiungukua village.
Otjinene’s Oslek FC will conclude the group B fixture against Oruvize FC.
On to netball, the fixtures will start at 10h00 with Otjiungukua facing Eiseb’s Zamalek, while Otjozondjima will have an uphill battle against Ozombuzovindimba in the following match.
Okovimburu will clash with Otjimanangombe, followed by Jakalsdraai’s encounter with Pamue Eleven, while Okaoveni will meet Okoutjove in the next match.
Epukiro’s formidable Red Fire will face Oruvize, Otjovakombe set to meet Renamo Bucks, while Okauua Rovers will face Okozondje.
Otjiungukua will lock horns against Omuhanuua while Ezorongondo ladies will clash against their Gauteng counterparts to wrap up the netball’s first round matches.
Hange added that the competition is sponsored by Mondi Ndjavera, and football teams will vie for N$ 38 000, with the winner taking home a trophy, N$ 13 000 in cash and 22 gold medals, while runners-up will receive N$ 8 000 plus 22 silver medals.
Each semi-finalist will walk away with N$3 500 in cash. Meanwhile, in netball, the winner will pocket N$ 5 000 in addition to a trophy and 14 gold medals, runners-up N$2 000 and 14 silvers, while semifinalists will go home with N$ 1 250 each.
Okauua Rovers won the football competition last year, while netball couldn’t take place due to the unavailability of netball courts.
The competition is expected to end on Sunday.