KEETMANSHOOP – Keetmanshoop mayor McDonald Hanse launched the 2024 edition of the annual Mayoral Cup on Tuesday, which is set to take place in April.

While launching the tournament, Hanse said sports programmes are powerful vehicles for achieving and advancing the development and peace agendas.

“Let us come together in the spirit of sports, fostering connections and friendships that will endure beyond the boundaries of the sports field. Sport can transform individuals; it bolsters physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being and development,” he said.

Hanse said that currently only one sport code—football—will feature in the tournament. He urged the organising team to come up with other sports codes to add to the annual event.

A member of the tournament organising committee, Owen Vlees said the proposed date for the tourney is 27 April 2024, but it is yet to be finalised.

“We do not want this tourney to clash with the dates when the first, second, and third division leagues resume their games because we will need those teams for the tourney,” he added.

Vlees said the tournament provides a platform for the youth of the region to showcase their talent and provides scouters with the opportunity to scout for raw talent.

The winners will walk away with N$25 000 in cash and a floating trophy, while the runner-up will walk away with N$15 000, and the semi-final losers will each walk away with N$5 000. The registration fee per team is N$1 800.

The tourney is expected to include teams from the first, second, and third divisions, as well as non-league teams. 

– Nampa