By Kuvee Kangueehi
WINDOEK
The seventh edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup was officially launched yesterday at the Soccer House in the capital. Speaking at the launch, Gwen Lister, the editor of The Namibian newspaper, which is the sole sponsor of the competition, said the competition will be taking place in Keetmanshoop in the Karas Region during the Easter weekend. She noted that the organizing committee of the competition was impressed with the facilities at the town and believe that the mini competition will be more exciting this year.
She called on people – especially those living around Keetmanshoop – to come out in their thousands to enjoy the football bonanza.
“I am calling on the residents of Keetmanshoop to get out of shebeens and to come and watch football with their families.”
Lister said the competition will not only give an opportunity for young players to display their skills at the national tournament, but will also give an opportunity to national team selectors to scout for talent.
The tournament was launched in 2001 and has since become one of the highlights on the Namibian football calendar. The inaugural tournament was held in Windhoek in 2001 and then moved to Otjiwarongo, Gobabis, Oshakati, Mariental and Walvis Bay.
From 2003, a “Shadow Team” was selected that played against the Brave Warriors, while the tournament has produced many talented players who have gone on to play for Premier League clubs and Namibian junior and senior sides.
Some of the most prominent players who have come through the ranks of The Namibian Newspaper Cup include Meraai Swartbooi, Erastus Ndjavera, Steve Tjeenao, Ettienne Beukes, Lazarus Kaimbi, Raymond Awaseb and Brian Brendell.
The Namibian newspaper, which initially injected N$120??????’??