MTC Maris Cup set for the weekend 

MTC Maris Cup set for the weekend 

Football fever is on a heightened level, with the much-anticipated first-ever edition of the MTC Maris Cup set to commence with the round of 16 this weekend at the Dr Hage Geingob Stadium. 

Ahead of the historic cup – which officially in MTC records becomes the single-biggest cup prize money on the local football circuits, MTC’s Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Officer Tim Ekandjo emphasised that no tickets will be sold for this event, but entrance is free for all – if you are registered for MTC Maris. 

Ekandjo said “the rationale behind that is to give Namibians the opportunity to watch their favourite football stars – without the hindrance of having to worry about ticketing fees. It is, however, best to register yourself ahead of the games for your convenience and avoid traffic at the stadiums. 

“Registration is easy, simply dial the short code *140*682# for self-registration on any type of device. I urge all our football fans and 081Nation to register in advance – to have easy and unhindered access to the stadiums, and avoid fan traffic and build-ups at the stadium gates,” said Ekandjo. 

He added that they have worked on a comprehensive safety and security plan to ensure the safety and security of all fans in addition to the Namibian Police and other law-enforcement agencies. 

As part of the MTC Maris innovation, vendors at the stadium will only be trading with MTC Maris and dedicated cash in points will be available in the stadium for fans to top up their MTC Maris Wallet. 

“This is for the fans to experience the ease of use and convenience of having to use your device as wallet – removing the necessity of carrying large cash on hand – providing an extra layer of financial security.” 

The MTC Maris Cup will be contested only by the 16 clubs of the Debmarine Premiership, with  the prize money set at a staggering N$1.5 million winner-takes-all extravaganza. The intention is to highlight and elevate the competition, as well as entice all the clubs that a lot is at stake for an all-out football glory. 

The round of 8 will take place on 1 and 2 February at the Oshakati Independence Stadium, whilst the semifinal will be played on 15 and 16 February at the Mariental Sport Stadium – before the cup returns to Windhoek for the final on 1 March, also at the Hage Geingob Stadium.