By Kuvee Kangueehi WINDHOEK Following a rather slow build-up to the 2006/2007 football season, the season will come to liFe tonight at the Sam Nujoma Stadium as the second edition of the First National Bank (FNB) Cup will be officially launched. This is the second consecutive year that the FNB Cup is staged under the new contract of the Namibia Football Consortium and NFA. Sixteen teams will participate in the FNB Cup with 12 NPL teams, and four teams of the nationwide First Division. FNB Manager Corporate Communication, Cassius Moetie, also announced that tonight’s draw will be special as an exhibition between Black Africa and Orlando Pirates will divide the 16 participating teams into Group A and Group B. He added that the tournament will kick off with two knock-out stages, with the first eight teams to compete in Mariental on November 19 to 20, while the second group of eight teams will take on each other on November 25 to 26 in Gobabis. Moetie confirmed that the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, has accepted an invitation to officiate at the FNB Cup, while the Football Controlling Body, NFA, has a slot to make a few remarks as the recipient of the N$500ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 FNB Cup sponsorship. Moetie said that FNB is the first to host an official football event under the Consortium Contract, “Namibians are football-hungry right now and they have waited for too long for Namibian footballers to play active football under the vanguard of the NFA. So, the FNB Cup is well-timed and I have no doubt that all Namibians will come in big numbers to the football stadiums in Mariental and Gobabis, as well as Windhoek where the Semi-Finals and Final will be played on December 9 and 16 respectively. Newly-elected NFA President John Muinjo will not be present as he is still in Nigeria. However, the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of First National Bank Namibia, Vekuii Rukoro, and the new-elected Chairman of the NPL Board of Governors (BoG), Peter van Wyk, will be expected to be present. Blue Waters has opened all cylinders to defend their championship title in the lucrative FNB Cup against SKW at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. Last years’ tournament was won by coastal giant, Blue Waters, when they ousted African Stars on penalties.