OPUWO – The annual Ondangwa Masters Football Club tournament is returning after a year-long hiatus and is set to take place this weekend at the Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Sports Field in Ondangwa, promising a larger and improved event.

The youth and legends tournament, which began in 2023, was created to serve as a foundation for football development at the grassroots level, to promote community unity, and to provide opportunities for SMEs.

Jackson Da Silva, the event’s marketing agent and organiser, confirmed to Nampa on Wednesday that retired football legends from Ondangwa have come together with the goal of reinvesting in the community through sports, partnering with the government to enhance grassroots sports development.

“I can confirm that the long-awaited tournament is back, and this time it is bigger and better. We are growing as an organisation and remain committed to our mission. 

This tournament was established to reinvest in the community through sports, and all sponsorship funds come directly from the Ondangwa Masters, who believe in the growth of sports,” he stated.

Da Silva mentioned that the tournament aims to instil discipline, promote a healthy lifestyle, keep the youth engaged in positive activities, and provide a platform for business owners to showcase and trade their products throughout the event. Teams in the youth category will secure their spots with a fee of N$1 000, while the legends category, which includes players over the age of 37, will register for N$850. According to Da Silva, 42 teams have registered for the youth category, and 13 teams have signed up in the legends category. The champions of the youth category will receive N$16 000, a trophy and gold medals, while the runners-up will earn N$9 000 and silver medals. The semi-final losers will each receive N$3 000.

In the legends category, the winning team will be awarded N$8 000, a trophy and gold medals, with the runners-up taking home N$5 000 and silver medals. 

The semi-final losers will each pocket N$2 000.

The inaugural edition of the tournament was won by Eheke-based Esperanza FC in the youth category, while Eewatu FC emerged victorious in the legends category.  – Nampa