As the dust settles, Mamelodi Sundowns will return home with the first-ever HopHydro U/18 Soccer Cup trophy, a testament to their exceptional performance and tactical mastery throughout the tournament.
The South African side, brimming with youthful talent, showcased their supremacy in style after three days of electrifying action at Jan Mohr Field in Windhoek.
In a fitting conclusion to their campaign, Sundowns delivered an emphatic 6-1 victory over the Khomas Regional team yesterday, solidifying their dominance in the competition.
From the outset, Sundowns imposed their game on the field, displaying skilful coordination and strategic play that kept their opponents on the back foot. The match saw a flurry of goals, with playmaker Orabile Booysen orchestrating much of the action, while Simbiwe Mlondo netted a brilliant brace, further demonstrating his flair and finishing ability.
Selwyn Stevens, Chuene Muebele, and Bokang Leshelo also found the back of the net, contributing to the overwhelming scoreline.
Namibia’s lone moment of joy came courtesy of Vitario Brunzel, who scored the only goal for the home team. Brunzel, who had a chance to double his tally, saw his second-half effort hit the goalpost, much to the disappointment of the crowd that had gathered over the weekend to cheer on the youthful players.
Despite their spirited support, it was clear that Sundowns were the superior side on the day.
Sundowns’ coach, Michael Manzini, praised his team’s impressive performance while stressing the need for ongoing development. “We wanted to put them under pressure. There are always things to work on and areas to perfect in the game,” Manzini said.
On the other hand, Khomas’ coach, Visto Shikomba, admitted that his team was outclassed by the tactical brilliance of Sundowns. “They were just better than us tactically. There’s a lot for us to learn,” Shikomba acknowledged, showing humility in defeat and a clear understanding of the areas his side needs to improve.
Meanwhile, the German side, FC Nurnberg, had a tough weekend, struggling to adapt to the scorching heat in Windhoek. The challenging conditions clearly took a toll on the team, who were unable to secure a single victory throughout the tournament.
Coach Vincent Novak, visibly frustrated by the heat, expressed his team’s inability to cope with the extreme temperatures, which ultimately impacted their performance. As a result, FC Nurnberg finished at the bottom of the standings.
Collin Benjamin Sports Talents (CBS) emerged as one of the standout teams, securing second place after an impressive 4-0 victory over FC Nurnberg in their final match of the tournament. The players listened to the instructions from their bench, with Willem Shalongo and Edson Mbaha both scoring a brace each to cap off a memorable performance for CBS.
The Khomas Regional team, despite their defeat in the final, secured third place overall but were not awarded medals, as only the top two teams received recognition for their efforts.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na