Anticipation is building for the 2024 Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup in Gobabis this weekend.
This year’s edition will take place from Friday to Monday at the Legare Sport Stadium, with over 10 000 people expected to flock to the capital of the Omaheke region.
Team manager of the 2023 football champions Kavango West, Edward Hauwombo said their team is looking forward to defending their trophy.
“One of the biggest issues we faced was the athletes not having enough time to prepare as parents are more focused on their children pursuing their education. Most of these athletes struggle with the required gear for the matches as well as training purposes,” he added.
Hauwombo said that although some of their players struggled to obtain boots and netball shoes, he is hopeful their participation in the competition will raise awareness among parents and guardians about the importance of sports and the opportunities it can create for their children’s future.
Captain of the Erongo netball team Remonde Helmo said their team is ready and will vie for top honours.
“We played valiantly in the cup in the past, with our recent accolade being in the 2022 edition when we came second. This was a great achievement we wanted to replicate in the 2023 edition. But due to some players sustaining injuries throughout the year, it was tricky to perform at our best.
“We, however, pushed through despite having few players and we gave it our best,” said Helmo. She added that they are going to Gobabis with a great mindset.
One of the organisers of the tournament, Cassius Moetie from the Namibia Football Association said the local organising committee under the leadership of Omaheke regional councillor Erwin Katjizeu is hard at work upgrading the stadium to meet the required standards of hosting the cup.
“Preparations are in full swing in Gobabis. The host is excited and thrilled to host the competition,” said Moetie. Sports minister Agnes Tjongarero will address the attendees at the opening ceremony of the competition tomorrow.
“The governor has invited all his fellow governors from the remaining 13 regions to join him in Gobabis,” said Moetie.
The government, through the line ministry, is a significant partner in this youth competition. They are sponsoring government buses to transport 14 regional football and netball teams to and from Gobabis. Additionally, the education ministry will accommodate the boys and girls in government school hostels.
The winners of the cup will walk away with cash prizes of N$35 000 for football and N$30 000 for netball.
The runners-up and third-place teams will walk away with N$20 000 and N$15 000, N$10 000 and N$9 000 for football and netball respectively.
Nedbank Namibia communications and public relations manager Selma Kaulinge said the bank believes in the transformative power of sponsoring initiatives that directly impact youth. “By providing opportunities for young people to engage in sports, we are fostering not only their physical well-being but also their personal development.
“As money experts who do good, sponsoring sporting events like the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, we demonstrate our dedication to youth development and strengthening the bond between the bank and the communities in which we operate.
“In essence, our endeavours around youth programmes transcend mere financial support. They embody our commitment to aiding the next generation of leaders,” she added.
Kick-off is at 10h00 with Oshikoto taking on Khomas and Hardap vs Zambezi simultaneously.
The netball games will also commence at 10h00 with Omusati going up against Ohangwena, and Kavango East facing Hardap.