KATIMA MULILO – Eight primary schools in the Zambezi Region competed for top honours in a tournament sponsored by Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu recently.
The maiden edition of the youth Under-13 championship got underway at the Katima Mulilo sports complex attracting a significant number of primary school learners to compete in both the football and netball disciplines.
Sampofu handed out prizes to the winning schools, saying that sport is an important unifier, a remedy for ailments and can improve people’s lives. “Sport is important because it makes you fit. It may even be a livelihood for those that are committed. Last year I was approached by NSSU who told me that there’s a need to look for young talent. We saw that talent on Saturday,” noted Sampofu.
He pledged to turn the youth tourney into an annual gathering and encouraged learners to equally work hard in school to achieve academic excellence. “ I want to thank the Namibian Schools Sports Union (NSSU) for their dedication to sports in the region. For that reason, next year I will put up something so that we get together and enjoy sports again.”
Liselo Primary School was the winner in the netball division and took home a cash prize of N$1 500 with a floating trophy, with Mavuluma and Ngweze primary schools finished 2nd and 3rd respectively taking home consolation prizes of N$1 200 and N$800.
Mavuluma scooped 1st prize in the football discipline and were the proud recipients of N$2 250 and a floating trophy, having despatched Liselo who had to be satsified with N$1 750 for fisnihing runners-up. Greenwell Matongo and Brendan Simbwaye shared N$1 000 in reaching the semifinals.
By George Sanzila