GOBABIS - The Regional Councils annual multi sports tourney (RCAST) got underway with a colourful opening ceremony at the Legare sports field in Gobabis on Monday. 

All 14 Regional Councils and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development will be competing in football, netball, volleyball, tug-of-war and athletics in the weeklong competition, which ends on Friday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairperson of the Omaheke Regional Council, 
Honourable Ignatius Kariseb, said the aim of the RCAST was two-fold. Firstly, the gathering aims to promote health and fitness among staff members and political office bearers from the participating institutions. 

Kariseb said exercising regularly reduces medical costs, which are mainly covered by the government through the Medical Aid Scheme. “If these costs can be reduced, the savings can be used on socio-economic programmes of government,” he said.  “Secondly, the tournament aims to encourage coordination among Regional Councils (RCs) and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development through teambuilding efforts as Regional Councils “are all charged with one mandate as per the Regional Councils Act, Act No. 22 of 1992,” Kariseb continued.  

Hosts, Omaheke RC, won the opening football match against Kavango East RC with a sizeable score line of 8-0 with Dominikus Ganeb scoring a double brace in that particular match.    Kavango East RC defeated Ohangwena RC in the tug-of-war category while MURD won 2-0 against Ohangwena RC in the opening match of the volleyball discipline.

Zambezi and Erongo cancelled each other out in 5-all stalemate in the netball section. 
 In the meantime, Ohangwena RC got the nod via a draw during the opening ceremony to host next year’s tournament. Khomas were the first to host the maiden edition of the annual gathering in 2016 (Windhoek) while Zambezi RC hosted the tourney last year in Katima Mulilo.