The Okovimburu village sports ground in the Epukiro Constituency will be the centre of attraction for the better part of this weekend as the Epukiro Sports Council hosts its annual festive football and netball tournaments. 

Epukiro sporting events have been around for more than 30 years and are regarded as one of the most prestigious festive season tournaments in Omaheke region. The tournament is typically held over two weekends due to the large number of competitors. 

In an interview with Nampa yesterday, tournament organiser Ngatuuane Hange said the sports event began in 1985 when the council aimed to combine sports and social development, providing a platform for aspiring athletes to showcase their skills to the world, and market themselves to bigger clubs across the country. 

He also said throughout the tournament, scouts will be actively involved in identifying skilled players who would get chances to pursue top-tier football nationwide. 

Hange said Epuki ro’s tournament is a major event that draws in more than 70 teams and a large crowd of spectators, pointing out that the tournament is exclusively for teams from the Epukiro constituency. 

The Epukiro Sports Council has allocated a total of N$65 000, of which N$45 000 is for the football category and N$20 000 for the netball tournament. 

The netball champions will receive N$10 000, a trophy, and gold medals; the runner-up will get N$5 000 and silver medals, while each of the semi-final losers will take home N$2 500. 

The football champions will receive N$22 000, a trophy and gold medals, while the runner-up will earn N$11 000, and the semi-finalists will each get N$6 000 for their efforts. 

Hange said there will be more than 15 additional awards for outstanding individual performances. 

Last year’s edition was claimed by Otjozondjima and Red Fire ya-Tumbonde in the football and netball categories respectively. 

-Nampa