2008-04-23Staff Report 2 "Staff Reporter WINDHOEK About 55 teams from the Southern African region are expected to participate in the popular annual freshwater angling competition on the Kavango River next week. The Crockango Angling Bonanza 2008 will take place at Shankara village, about 80 kilometres east of Rundu. Media Liaison Officer for the Crockango Angling Club Mohammed Bhamjee yesterday said anglers from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana are scheduled to join their Namibian counterparts at this particular event, ranked amongst the most sought-after competitions on the local sport calendar. The competition, which has been in existence since 1999, will start next Wednesday, and the winners are going to sweat it out for the record amount of prizes that are up for grabs. According to Bhamjee, the competition is a team-based format, but the main prize will be awarded to the individual with the largest catch, solely based on the factor system. In total, there will be a staggering amount of N$300,000 worth of prizes, including a complete state-of-the-art fishing boat, with an estimated retail prize in the region of N$150,000. Anglers are compelled to catch at least three of the four fish species found in the Kavango River. Expected to be in groups of about three to four participants on one boat, anglers are compelled to catch at least three of the four fish species found in the Kavango River, which are Tiger, Catfish, Bream, and Squeaker. Bhamjee invited members of the general public to come out in large numbers and support this popular event that has attracted interest from beyond Namibian borders. Non-stop entertainment will be provided by Grootfontein-based band B4, who will be performing every night at the Tafel Lager beer tent. Kiddies' activities will also take centre stage throughout the day. The highlight of the Kid's activities will be the traditional ""Wall Angling Competition"", where the aspiring anglers will fish for the small species under the supervision of the daycare volunteers. Eight different companies from Namibia and beyond threw their weight together to render financial assistance to this popular event. ""The Namibian and Southern African business communities have exceeded themselves in providing the much-needed cash injection for this event. In all, almost eighty companies and individuals have come together to achieve this success,"" confirmed Bhamjee. ""There has never been an angling competition in Namibia that has generated so much interest and participation,"" said Bhamjee. He added, ""Indeed, it is the largest and richest in our angling history. The organizers are satisfied with the preparations and are ready for the influx of both professional and amateur anglers that will grace the river,"" Bhamjee concluded. " 2008-04-23Staff Report 2
