… Haipumbu wins Sunderland trip
Windhoek
Tigers pair Panduleni ‘Kaka’ Nekundi and Fillimon Nambele were the biggest winners at yesterday’s Bidvest Cup Awards, held at Football House.
Striker Nekundi walked away with the Golden Boot Award and N$25 000, after emerging as the tournament’s top-goal scorer with a total of 14 goals, while Nambele was the deserving winner of the Best Player of the Tournament Award, which comes with N$25 000.
Nekundi and Nambele helped Tigers quench a 19-year-old trophy drought when the boys from Shandumbala won the third and final edition of the Bidvest Cup after subduing Orlando Pirates on penalties at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
The free-scoring Nekundi scored all his 14 goals in the competition in Tigers’ 25-0 win over an out-of-sorts Kavango West side Western Stars at the Oscar Norich Stadium in Tsumeb.
Player of the Tournament Nambele featured in all five of Tigers’ matches in the competition and went on to win Man of the Match accolades in their semi-final victory over Eleven Arrows and also against Pirates, while his overall individual contribution to Tigers’ success last term is unquestionable.
Nekundi says after Tigers lost out on the league title, the Bidvest Namibia Cup was their only consolation.
“When we gave away the league, we turned our attention to the cup and in the end it paid off for us. I now plan to make sure I return to the Brave Warriors fold and just want to thank everyone who contributed to our success, especially the supporters for their belief in us” Kaka said.
Theo Mberirua of Bidvest Namibia said his company is satisfied with the contribution they have made towards the development of the game despite them not renewing the sponsorship contract.
“Our sincere appreciation to all of you who made the Bidvest Cup a big success over the last three years and also to the media, your wonderful and exceptional coverage is much appreciated”, Mberirua stated.
Namibia Football Association (NFA)’s Barry Rukoro said the football association would hold dear the legacy of the Bidvest Namibia Cup. “This cup has brought a new dimension to the area of event management, good organisation and provided sufficient games for our players to compete at the highest level. The success the Brave Warriors enjoyed at the Coasafa Cup is partly a Bidvest Cup product.”
Meanwhile, the Bidvest Cup All Access Pass Competition winner Natangwe Haipumbu, who hails from Tsumeb, says he cannot wait for his tour to Sunderland, England, to watch Sunderland live in action against Tottenham Hotspur in September.
“I’m taking my elder brother along and I entered the competition at Tsumeb, when Tigers played Western Stars. I’m so happy for Tigers and feel blessed to be the winner of the competition.”