By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – Organisers of the newly introduced Ben Uanivi Knockout Cup, under the auspices of the Omuramba Black Beauty Sports Club from Otjinene constituency in the Omaheke region, are appealing to potential sponsors for financial assistance.
The club’s main objective is to promote various sporting disciplines in Otjinene’s outlying areas where various youth groups are engaged in different sports codes. “We want to ensure the youth are actively involved in activities that promotes their health and ensure they form part of a group that can develop themselves,” reads a statement from the club.
“Sport is an activity that encourages discipline and foster teamwork. It’s our sincere wish to keep the youth away from the evils of society by engaging them in productive activities such as sports. They might grow to become elite athletes of the future”.
The club further says its mission is in line with the mission of the portfolio ministry since the Namibian government also wants to ensure the nation at large is involved in sports by taking part in various recreational activities. Currently, the Sports Club consists of two different sporting disciplines, namely Football and Netball. A two-day football tournament for both football and netball will be staged in Gobabis on the 13th of next month, in honour of the departed football administrator, one of Namibia’s best whistle man (referee) the late Ben-Kaurikarera Uanivi. The tourney will be played under the theme, Ben Kaurikarera Uanivi Challenge Cup.
Uanivi was a well-known figure in domestic football and was a founding member of the now defunct Hungry Lions Football Club. He has groomed dozens of footballers who went onto become household names in domestic football such as Justice and Leslie Basson, Billy Tuahepa, Jackson Meroro, Ringo Skrywer and Forra Nicodemus.
He played an influential role in the development of referees was one of the very first black referees to officiate in the coveted annual Provincial Currie Cup tourney, in South Africa.