Okau Kamasheshe
Choice FC were crowned champions of the annual Okau Kamasheshe football tournament following a well-deserved 1-0 win over New Start FC in an exciting final at the Okau Kamasheshe village on Christmas Eve.
Striker Samuel Ashipala scored the only goal as Choice beat New Start, who were once popular champions of the annual event, having won it three times consecutively: in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
New Start had their chances too, but could not match the greater strength of the much improved team from Uukwangula village and in particular the pace of the tournament’s top goal scorer, Samuel Ashipala. Choice took home a floating trophy, gold medals and N$5 000. New Start walked away with N$2 500 and silver medals.
Intermilana of Oshitowa village finished third after defeating Young Boys 1-0 at the same venue earlier that day. They took home N$1 500 in cash. Fourth placed Young Boys also from Oshitowa village were consoled with N$1 000.
Tricky striker Samuel Ashipala netted four goals in the tournament and in doing so finished as top goal-scorer. He was one ahead of Young Boy’s Immanuel Angolo. Ashipala received N$400 for his efforts, while Angolo was given N$350. Erro Kambonde was the goalkeeper of the tournament, noted for his impressive performance between the goal posts, and was awarded N$350.
In total 16 teams took part in the event and chairperson of the organising committee Indileni Set Sam Iipinge said their main objective was achieved. Iipinge said: “Each visiting team came with between 20 to 30 people, including the players to the village and hence brought over 420 visitors to the village.”
Iipinge indicated that most of the teams that took part in the event raised concerns over the condition of the pitch, but promised that the 19th edition in 2016 would be even bigger than this year’s event, with more focus on improving the football pitch.
On behalf of the Okau community, Markus Shinyemba who is from Okau Kamasheshe village and a councillor in the Grootfontein local authority, thanked all the sponsors, teams that participated and the Okau community for hosting the visitors and thanked fans from different parts of the country for taking time to come watch the eventful OKAFT.
On behalf of the sponsors Festus Nakatana said he would personally continue supporting the event after seeing the large number of people in attendance and the quality of football on display. He said it was surely worth sponsoring this ever-growing event.
The 18th edition of OKAFT event was sponsored to the tune of N$10 000 made possible by contributions from the Ndeulipula Hamutumwa Trust, Oshana/Eenhana/Natu Pharmacy, Kafo Kape Trading Cc, Gwashe Life Bar, KPM Trading cc, Katololi Trading cc, Harricane 55 transport, Elima Trading cc, Oshimana Bar and Festus Nakatana.