KEETMANSHOOP-Residents of the //Kharas region can look forward to exciting football and netball action with the return of the annual //Kharas Governor’s Cup set to take place from 3 to 5 June 2022.

The competition, which first took place in 2018, was relaunched by the regional governor Aletha Frederick last week under the theme ‘Youth Development through Sports’. Covid-19 regulations prevented the hosting of the event in the past three years.

Frederick said the event will see football and netball structures being reignited, strengthened and restored in order to ensure the region is put back on track in terms of sport.

She added that the intention is to provide a conducive and impartial environment for youth in all constituencies to participate in football and netball at regional level, and ultimately establish formidable regional youth teams.

“Hence, the Governor’s Cup is a great platform to identify hidden talents within each constituency in the //Kharas region,” said Frederick. 

She stated that through scouting and identification of talent during previous sports tournaments, //Kharas region, after participating in The Namibian Newspaper Cup almost 18 times, eventually won the 2019 edition for the first time, and are still the defending champions.

“This region has produced so many great sportsmen and women who have represented the region on the national and international level over the years, and therefore, we must start at the grassroots level and develop all-inclusive sports programmes to restore both football and netball codes into their former glory,” said the politician. 

Applauding the sponsors who have already come on board, she extended an invitation to others to also join forces with her office to make the event a success.

Keetmanshoop mayor McDonald Hanse said the aim of the cup is to strengthen capacity in sports management and further provide a conducive and impartial environment for the youth in the region to participate in football and netball games at regional level. 

“This initiative might very well be the opportunity that our young athletes need to launch their sporting careers,” he added. 

The seven constituencies that will compete are Keetmanshoop Urban (defending champions), Keetmanshoop Rural, Karasburg West, Karasburg East, !Nami#Nus, Oranjemund, Berseba West and Berseba East.

- sklukowski@nepc.com.na