Hilma Nalupe
The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 league ended the season with a glittering awards ceremony at the Nedbank Campus Sky Garden in Windhoek last week.
The event marked the end of a fiercely contested tournament that showcased Namibia’s rising cricket stars and growing community enthusiasm for the sport.
Team Cricket Generation (Cric Gen) from Walvis Bay won the final, beating the Gobabis Bulls by 33 runs at the Namibia Cricket Ground in July to secure the league title. Okahandja Cricket Club took home the Shield trophy, while United was named Bowl winners in a season that included a total of 46 matches.
Among the night’s biggest winners was Willem Groenewald of Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club, who walked away with the player of the tournament accolade. Cric Gen’s William Lottering earned the best bowler award, while Gobabis Cricket Club’s 17-year-old Henre Opperman was recognised as both best batter and best fielder.
Opperman, who shone throughout the season, said the tournament played a vital role in shaping the futures of young athletes.
“I see this tournament as a significant opportunity for player development and for building up career points. I learnt that batting consistency plays a very big role in team success, he said.
Ethan du Toit (15) also made headlines by winning the Impact player of the tournament for the second consecutive year, cementing his reputation as one of Namibia’s brightest young cricket prospects.
Tournament organiser and Impact Cricket chairperson Willie Junius said the league’s rapid expansion has been remarkable.
“We had 14 teams trying to come on board, eventually settling on 12. The interest is phenomenal,” he said.
Junius added that innovations are planned for next season, including fan engagement activities, unique scoring features, and expanded youth development initiatives in state schools.
Supported by Nedbank Namibia, the league has grown from a small coastal contest to one of the country’s most dynamic semi-professional cricket platforms.