The Namibia Fistball Association (FAN) will host its first tournament of the year this weekend in Swakopmund.

This follows the league’s inability to appoint a commissioner, a key position responsible for overseeing the competition. As a result, FAN will focus on organising multiple tournaments throughout the year instead of running a full league season.

At the tournament on Saturday, in the A category, two teams each from Cohen Fistball Club (CFC) and Swakopmund Sport Club (SFC), along with three teams from Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW), will compete. Fresh off their Opening Cup victory, CFC 1 enter the tournament as the top favourites.

In the B category, a team from hosts SFC will join two teams from SKW and CFC in the competition. CFC 3, the Opening Cup runner-up, will be among the strong contenders, alongside the fourth SKW team, the Green Whites, who also have a solid chance at claiming the title.

Additionally, the SFC juniors will take on their Windhoek based counterparts from CFC in the U/13 category.

Old Crocks tourney

The upcoming tournament will also serve as preparation for the highly anticipated Old Crocks Cup, set for April at SKW. The international event will see participation from countries such as Germany, Switzerland and the United States all flying down to Windhoek for the much-anticipated event. The competition will feature men’s age groups over 40, 50 and over 60, while the women’s division will cater to players over 30.

Speaking to this publication, FAN’s communications manager Helmo Mainz said that preparations for the event are well underway. “We are expecting a weekend full of action, with all the top players competing,” he said. “Even though we don’t have a league this year, we believe these tournaments will give players much needed game time,” he said.

This tournament will also play a crucial role in preparations for the 2027 Fistball World Championships, which will be hosted in Germany.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na