The Otjinene-based Otjinoko netball team won the 22nd edition of the Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation (NRSDF) tournament on Sunday in Windhoek, defeating Epukiro-based Renamo Bucks in the final.

En route to the final, Otjinoko overcame Okauua Rovers 30-20 before defeating Renamo Bucks 36-31 at the Ella du Plessis sports facility in a tournament that comprised 20 netball and 25 football teams. 

Renamo Bucks defeated Epukiro rival Ovinjuru NC in the semi-finals by 30-20.

Otjinoko won N$5 000 and a trophy as champions, with Renamo Bucks in second getting N$ 2 500. Okauua Rovers and Ovinjuru each received N$1 250 as semi-final losers.

NRSDF vice president Ngatuuane Hange said  the federation event is the most renowned football and netball rural competition under the NRSDF’s auspices, bringing together two finalist teams from each settlement that makes up the federation, throughout more than two decades.

Hange told Nampa in an interview on Monday that the event was a success, even though the football category still has to be completed, which he says will happen next weekend.

Due to the number (25) of teams they received this year, they were only able to complete the netball category, while the football category is still in the semi-final stage.

Hange said four teams will fight in a one-day (Saturday) semi-final phase: Okauua Rising Stars and Okauua Rovers, both from Otjinene settlement, as well as Aminuis-based Otjeue City and Epukiro-based Okovimburu.

The football champion will get N$12 000, the runner-up N$7 000, and the losing semi-finalists N$3 000 each.

- Nampa