The highly anticipated Round of 16 fixtures for the 2025 Maris Cup have been announced, with thrilling matchups set to take place at the Dr Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek. 

Football fans are in for a treat, as the competition intensifies, with the top teams gearing up for a series of exciting clashes starting on Saturday, 25 January.

The action kicks off at 13h00, when KK Palace faces off against Khomas Nampol. At 15h30, Young African will take on Young Brazilians in what promises to be an exhilarating encounter. Okahandja United will then meet Ven Blue Waters at 18h00, and the day’s final match will feature Unam against Chula Chula at 20h00.

On Sunday, the action continues with Cuca Tops battling FC Ongos at 11h00, followed by Civics going head-to-head with Julinho at 13h30. At 16h00, Mighty Gunners will clash with Tigers, and the day will wrap up with a highly anticipated showdown between Blue Boys and African Stars at 18h30.

Khomas Nampol’s Fortune Eichab shared that his squad has returned from a break and resumed training on Monday. “The bodies have to get back to training adjustments, and we’ll use this weekend to sharpen up as we prepare for both the Maris Cup and the DebMarine Premier League,” Eichab said. His team is currently topping the Premier League standings, adding to the excitement surrounding their performance.

Meanwhile, Zambian head coach Anderson Phiri of KK Palace revealed that his players resumed training on Tuesday, and while some players are still regaining full fitness, they are determined to be at their best for the Maris Cup. Despite his team sitting near the bottom of the Premier League, Phiri remains optimistic, noting, “Football is dynamic, and fortunes can change in an instant.”

The cup games will unfold over several weekends, with the quarterfinals set for 1 to 2 February. The semi-finals are scheduled for 15 and 16 February at Mariental Stadium and the grand final is set for 1 March at Independence Stadium.

The stakes are high, with the winning team set to walk away with a massive N$1.5 million prize. In addition, all participating teams will receive a N$40 000 preparation fee. Individual players also have a chance to win big, with the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Player of the Tournament each offering N$20 000. The team that best promotes MTC Maris services will earn N$30 000, while six fans who create the best MTC Maris videos will be rewarded with N$5 000 each.

Football enthusiasts attending the tournament will enjoy free entrance, provided they register for MTC using the code *140*682#. 

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na