The fourth edition of the Harders Cup was officially launched in grand style at a lavish gala dinner in Lüderitz on Friday night.
Initially conceived as a local football
tournament, the Harders Cup has now expanded into a major regional event, drawing participation from 20 teams within the southern stream.
This year, the prize money has been doubled, establishing the Harders Cup as the third-largest sporting event in Namibia with a total prize pool of N$420 000. The victorious team will take home N$200 000, while the runner-up will receive N$100 000.
The team finishing in third place will earn
N$50 000, and the fourth-placed team will get N$30 000. In addition, the top goal scorer and the
player of the tournament will each be awarded N$20 000. All participating teams will be outfitted with brand-new kits, courtesy of the event organisers. In a bid to support education, the Harders Cup will also grant an annual bursary to a deserving student.
As always, the tournament will culminate in
the eagerly-awaited Harders Music Bash, which will feature performances by over 10 artists. The dates for this year’s Harders Cup have been confirmed for 20 to 22 September.
The event will be executed with a total budget of N$1.7 million. During the gala dinner, an impressive N$320 000 was raised in pledges. The founder of the Harders Cup, Tim Ekandjo, and Debmarine each pledged N$100 000. Seaflower and Namdeb followed with pledges of N$50 000 each, while the Mayoral Fund and Naftal Trading contributed N$10 000 each.
To ensure the community can enjoy the festivities, entry to the Harders Cup will be free.