Khomas Nampol’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams asserted their dominance at the Namibia Volleyball Federation cup finals, held at the Windhoek Showgrounds in the capital this past Saturday.
In the men’s category, Nampol faced off against the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) in the finals, securing victory with a 3-2 scoreline. The first set proved to be a close battle, with NDF edging out a 23-24 win.
However, Nampol made a strong comeback in the second set, taking it convincingly at 25-16. They maintained their momentum in the third set, clinching it 25-19. NDF retaliated in the fourth set, winning it by 23-25, but Nampol persevered and staged an impressive comeback in the final set, securing a 15-12 victory and earning the championship title.
In the women’s category, Nampol outclassed Namibian Navy with a clean sweep, winning all three sets. Nampol easily won the first set 25-16, then won the second set by a slim margin of 27-25, and completed it all with a commanding 25-14 victory in the third set.
After the match, Khomas Nampol men’s team head coach Fredrika Ayanda Kayshuna shared her thoughts on the game. “It was far from an easy match, especially against a determined NDF team. Despite the tough road, we were resolute in our pursuit of the title. We kept pushing because our sole objective was to win and defend our championship.”
She continued: “From the outset, we came into the finals with a winning mindset. I had confidence in our team’s ability, and that solid belief was our driving force throughout the tournament. While we will plan for the future, we also want to give our players some well-deserved rest,” she said.
Meanwhile, the NDF head coach acknowledged the challenges they faced. “It was a demanding match, and we had opportunities to lead and win, but our players were fatigued. Costly mistakes and a loss of focus during the final set hurt us. I believe the extended playtime took its toll on our players, contributing to our defeat. Nevertheless, I’m content with our second-place finish, and we’ll regroup and strategise for the next season.”
In terms of rewards, the winners in each category were awarded N$10,000, while the second-placed teams took home N$8,000. Third and fourth places received N$5,000 and N$2,000, respectively.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na