Sawi Haufiku

RUNDU – Mateus Megameno and Thomas Hilifa were the winners of the men’s 5km and 10km distance races of the annual Kavango Super Cup Festival, which started in Rundu on Saturday.

Megameno completed the 5km stretch in 15 minutes and 34 seconds, while Hilifa completed the 10km race in 30 minutes and 10 seconds, the executive sports director of the Kavango Super Cup Festival, Erasmus Someno, told Nampa on Monday.

He said the second, third, and fourth runner-ups in the men’s 5km and 10km races were Sisenge Philip, Kambwee Bernadinus, Yapwire Johannes, Hamutwa Shikongo, Myahardt Kauanivi, and Simon Nakale.

The women’s 5km and 10km runs were won by Maria Kanyanga and Martha Shivolo, respectively.

Kanyanga completed the 5km stretch in 18 minutes and 39 seconds, while Shivolo completed her 10km race in 36 minutes and 22 seconds.

Lourencia Dikuwa and Lucia Nghitishona came in second and third place in the 5km, while Beata Jeremia, Salmi Nduviteko, and Penehupifo Hininghishwa came in second, third, and fourth during the women’s 10km.

Someno said the competition was successful, seeing that this is the first time long-distance running is being incorporated into the festival, which was launched in 2020.

Winners in the men’s and women’s 5km competitions won N$1 250 each with a trophy and gold medals, while the runner-ups won N$1 000, N$500, and N$250, respectively, with silver and bronze medals for second and third place.

Winners in the men’s and women’s 10km competitions won N$2 500 each with a trophy and gold medals, while the runner-ups won N$1 250, N$750, and N$500, respectively, with silver and bronze medals for second and third place.

Namibia’s silver Olympic medalist, Christine Mboma, handed over the trophies and medals to all the winners.

The event aims to showcase the vibrant heritage, diverse traditions, and talent in the Kavango East region.

Various cultural performances and sporting activities such as netball, volleyball, and football will feature at the festival, which ends on 07 August 2023.

The festival has attracted over 100 sporting teams, including international teams from neighbouring countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, who will be competing in various sport codes.

In 2022, over 6 000 people came to witness the event, while 32 football teams, 12 netball teams, and 12 volleyball teams participated. - Nampa