Zebaldt Ngaruka
In a spirited show of support for local sports development, Okorukambe constituency councillor Rocco Nguvauva on Saturday donated brand-new football kits to 11 teams across the constituency in the Omaheke region.
Beyond the physical and mental benefits of sport, Nguvauva also spoke about its potential to open doors in unexpected ways. “Through sport, you can secure a job, build a future, or even find love—there’s no limit to what you can achieve.”
The donation, valued at N$74 698, comes as part of the councillor’s broader vision to empower the youth and promote grassroots football.
The teams that benefited from the generous donation include Omitara, Witvlei, Mooidraai, Skoonheid, Du Plessis, Epukiro RC, Cordova, Steinhausen, Alentoe, Harnas, and Summerdown. Each team received a full set of playing gear, giving them a much-needed boost as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
In addition to the kits, Nguvauva announced a cash allocation of N$50 000, which will be distributed among the winning teams as prize money during the ongoing football tournament.
Addressing attendees at the official handover ceremony, Nguvauva emphasised the importance of sport in uniting communities and inspiring young people. “Sport is a powerful tool that brings people together – especially the youth. It instils discipline, builds character, and can change lives,” he said.
The donation and tournament are aligned with Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s recent commitment to prioritising sport as a national development pillar. The councillor reiterated that President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s pledge to construct stadiums in all 121 constituencies includes Okorukambe, with Witvlei settlement already earmarked as the preferred site.
“As a former footballer, I understand how demoralising it is for teams to compete without proper gear. This is my way of encouraging our youth to take sport seriously,” he stated. “But I cannot do it alone – other community leaders and stakeholders must also come on board to support our young athletes.”
The councillor called on the community to care for the kits and use them as intended. “These attires should serve as a source of pride and motivation. With the right support, I believe these teams can reach greater heights and represent our constituency at regional and even national levels.
Nguvauva also expressed his desire to see Okorukambe players breaking into the Premier League and the national team. “We need to start producing footballers like Mohammed Auseb, Robert Nauseb, Congo Hindjou, Lolo Goraseb, Ricardo Mannetti, Eliphas Shivute, Bimbo Tjihero, and Ronnie Kananelo—talents that once made our region proud.”
The kit handover coincided with the Late Ombara Kilus Nguvauva Open, a football tournament hosted in honour of the late Ovambanderu Chief Kilus Nguvauva at Summerdown settlement. The competition, now in its quarter-final stage, will continue this coming weekend.
Local football figures welcomed the initiative with open arms. David Gamgaweseb, head coach of Skoonheid FC, described the donation as long overdue and deeply appreciated. “This is the first kit sponsorship we’ve received since the late Chief Kilus Nguvauva helped us in 2009. It’s a game-changer for our young players,” he said.
Omitara team captain Festus Tjombe echoed the gratitude. “We only had shirts before, no shorts. Now we have complete kits, and that gives us extra motivation to do well on the pitch,” he said.