Zebaldt Ngaruka
The town of Opuwo in Kunene region will host the first edition of Vipuakuje Muharukua Liberty Games comprising football, netball and horse racing competitions at the Newman Katuta Sports ground on Saturday.
Masatu Thom who is the chairperson of the organising committee of the competition told New Era Sports that former Member of Parliament Muharukua provided N$77 000, trophies and medals to be given to the winning teams in the three sports codes.
Thom said the competition is aimed at promoting health awareness in different schools in the region, especially in teeth-related and menstrual education.
“It is aimed at establishing sports academies in different sports codes in the region. We also want to use sports to fight alcohol abuse among the youth in our region,” said Thom.
He said 29 football teams from different parts of the region have registered so far, while 12 registered for netball. “We have 23 local horses that will participate in the newly-revived sport in our region that will battle in two sprints. They will compete in 1 000 metres and 2 000m,” he said.
An amount of N$40 000 will be for prizes in the football competition while netball teams will vie for N$12 500, and N$24 500 is for the horse-racing event.
“This will be an annual tournament ,and teams from all parts of the country are welcome to participate,” added Thom.
The winner in football will take
home a trophy, N$20 000 plus medals, while the runners-up will go home with N$12 000 and silver medals. Each semi-finalist will pocket N$4 000.
In netball, the champion will take home N$7 000 plus gold medals, whereas the runners-up will settle for N$3 500 and silver medals. The two semi-final losers will share N$4 000.
In the horse competition, the winner of the 1 000 m will take home N$5 000 and a trophy, the second-placed will settle for N$3 000, while the third and fourth will respectively get N$2 000 and N$1 000.
In the 2 000m sprint, the winner will pocket N$6 000 and a trophy, second place N$3 500, while third place takes home N$2 500, and N$1 000 is reserved for the fourth place.
Local horse called Roma from Ombombo village is expected to shine in the 2 000m sprint after it’s impressive performance at the recent horse meeting in Opuuo. Other top local horses Coke, Spera and Kuuoko are also expected to do well. There will be live DJ music at the stadium, and live performances from Bullet Concert Group to entertain the crowd. Adults will be charged N$20 at the gate, while kids and cars to pay
N$ 10 to enter the stadium.
The chairperson added that kapana stalls will be set up at the stadium so that people do not go hungry. The games are expected to end on Sunday.
zngaruka@gmail.com