In a vibrant splash of youthful energy, teachers in the Etoto West cluster hosted a colourful tournament for learners in grades 4 to 7 and are now appealing to companies and individuals to assist them by supporting rural sports development. The tournament, involving four schools, brought excitement to the dusty football fields last Saturday and concluded early on Sunday morning. 

Set against the ochre backdrop of Etoto, a remote area in Epupa constituency, Kunene region, about 170 kilometres outside Opuwo, the event brought life to the community.

One of the organisers, Tobias Mwele, speaking amid the bright sun and green fields, said the purpose of the tournament was to expose pupils to the vibrant world of sports, despite the limitations imposed by the scarcity of resources. 

“We wanted our pupils to interact with each other within the cluster while raising funds to support sports activities at the school,” he said.

The tournament featured two dynamic sports codes: netball, with its vivid orange balls bouncing across the courts, and soccer, with players darting after the black-and-white ball on the sunbaked ground.  The participating schools were Etoto, Etoto West, Otjerunda Primary, and Kamenu Combined Schools.  Mwele added that this annual tournament, sparkling with young talent, is hosted by different schools each year, emphasising the promotion of sportsmanship and socialisation.

 “Next year, it will be hosted by another school. We just want to promote sports and social interaction,” he emphasised.

The tournament winner took home N$560, a glittering floating trophy, and shining medals. The losing finalists walked away with N$490 and medals, while the third-placed team earned medals and N$350.  The money for the prizes was contributed by the schools during registration and through local fundraising efforts, symbolising the community’s shared effort to support their budding athletes.