Northern Stream First Division side Further Fighters Football Club are the 2023 Okapya Annual Sports Tournament youth champions after they beat Sasa Boys 5-4 on penalties in the final at Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Airport Sports Field on Christmas Day.
The teams had played an entertaining 1-1 draw in regulation time of the game.
The veterans’ competition was won by Ondangwa Masters, who edged Northern Coaches 1-0 in the final.
The fifth edition of the annual tournament featured 24 youth teams and 11 veterans’ teams, with former Brave Warriors and Brave Gladiators players Kaskas Angula and Corry Angula conducting the draw for the popular festive season tournament.
More than 2 000 former and current football players participated in this year’s competition, including Eeshoke Chula Chula’s striker George Marselinu Ronaldo and Orlando Pirates defender Kleopas Naukosho, with former Brave Warriors players like Page Ananias, Lazarus Kaimbi, Fox Nambundunga, and Angula playing for various teams during the tournament.
Organiser Sandro Ithana said the tournament was a success despite several challenges they faced, including a flooded pitch and too much rain, which forced the rescheduling of some matches.
“We had to move matches from Eleven Morning Stars Sports Field to Andimba Toivo Airport Sports Field because of the rain. The tournament was scheduled to end on 24 December, but due to the rain, we could only finish on 25 December,” Ithana said.
For their efforts, Further Fighters received N$12 000, 18 gold medals, a trophy, and a football kit, while Sasa Boys pocketed N$6 000, 18 silver medals and a soccer kit.
Mulan FC took home N$3 000 in addition to the 18 bronze medals.
Santos Nekongo of Further Fighters won the Player of the Tournament accolade and received N$500, while every man of the match from the round of 16 onwards took home N$200, a certificate and energy drinks.
In the veterans’ section, Ondangwa Masters received N$5 000, 18 gold medals, a trophy, and football gear, while runners up Northern Coaches got N$3 000, a football kit, and 18 silver medals. Helao Nafidi were rewarded with N$2 000 and 18 bronze medals for coming third.