Category: Sports

WINDHOEK: Debmarine Namibia Premiership team Khomas NamPol took the lead in the Premiership table on Sunday after defeating log leaders African Stars with a 2-0 scoreline at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.

Nampol, who entered the country’s top league at the onset of the 2023/24 Premier League season, became the first team to reach 40 points in the 17 league fixtures played thus far in the season.

At the Independence Stadium in the capital on Sunday, NamPol scored the opening goal just 18 minutes into the match through Denzil Haoseb.

African Stars attempted every strategy to score, but Khomas NamPol’s sturdy defence made it challenging. The first half concluded with Khomas NamPol leading 1-0.

In the second half, Khomas NamPol sustained their attacking momentum from the first half and netted another goal in the 75th minute. Terry Uiseb was fouled by African Stars substitute Jackson Johannes in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Uiseb successfully converted the penalty kick, extending the
ir lead to 2-0.

African Stars endeavoured to score a consolation goal immediately after Uiseb’s goal but failed in their attempt as the NamPol goalkeeper made a double save to deny Lazarus Kaimbi and Ibroihim Youssouf from finding the back of the net.

With Sunday’s victory, Khomas NamPol ascended to the top of the table, becoming the first club to reach 40 points this season. Meanwhile, African Stars dropped to second place with only 37 points, garnering just one point from their two matches over the weekend.

FC Ongos currently occupies third place on the league table with 33 points from 16 matches played this season. Blue Waters sits in fourth place with 28 points from 18 matches. Meanwhile, Eeshoke Chula Chula managed to secure three points out of a possible six over the weekend and is now in fifth place with 28 points.

Clubs at risk of relegation include Orlando Pirates, who languish at the bottom of the log with only eight points from 17 matches. Life Fighters, with 11 points, currently occupying 15th
place, and Civics in 14th place with 13 points from 17 matches.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OPUWO: The Namibia Football Association (NFA) has declared the resumption of all football league activities, two days after they were cancelled due to President Hage Geingob’s death in Windhoek on Sunday.

Cassius Moetie, NFA Marketing and Communication Manager, in a statement on Monday said the games scheduled for this weekend will go as planned.

‘The NFA wishes to inform the public and all football lovers that it has resolved to resume the league fixtures for the weekend of 09 to 11 February 2024,’ he said.

Moetie further said during the period of national mourning, tributes will be paid to the late president at all Premier League games.

‘For all games, players and staff will wear black armbands to express the NFA’s condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the entire Namibian nation for the passing of the former football patron, while a minute’s silence will be observed before games to show appreciation for the late Geingob’s reign,’ Moetie said.

Speaking to Nampa on Tuesday, Debmarine Namibia Football Lea
gue director Johannes Mabos Vries confirmed that the league will continue with rounds 18 and 19 on Friday and Sunday.

He stated that the scheduled Round 17 fixtures, which were slated to take place on Sunday, 04 February 2024 but were postponed due to the president’s untimely death, will not be honoured. Vries stated that the date for the Round 17 fixtures would be announced in due time.

On Thursday, Khomas NamPol FC will meet relegation-threatened Orlando Pirates FC, who are currently led by former Matebele FC coach Woody Jacobs, at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.

UNAM FC will take on Okahandja United at UNAM Stadium on Friday.

On Saturday, Tigers FC will play Ongos FC at UNAM Stadium, while Life Fighters FC will host coastal outfit Blue Waters at Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo.

Northern pride Eeshoke Chula Chula will play Julinho Sporting at the Oshakati Independence Stadium, while Okakarara Young Warriors will host Mighty Gunners at the Omulunga Stadium in Grootfontein. In the south, Young Brazil
ians will meet reigning champions African Stars.

Civics will face Young Africans at UNAM Stadium.

The Round 19 matchups for Sunday will feature Life Fighters against Okahandja United, Blue Waters against UNAM, and Mighty Gunners vs Julinho Sporting.

Okakarara Young Warriors will face Eeshoke Chula Chula in a battle of the underdogs.

Khomas NamPol will face African Stars FC for the top place, while Young Brazilians will host Orlando Pirates. Tigers will host Young African in Windhoek, while Civics will play Ongos FC at UNAM Stadium.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) on Tuesday announced a three-year sponsorship worth N.dollars 3 million to the Namibian Volleyball Federation (NVF).

MTC’s Chief Human Capital and Marketing Officer, Tim Ekandjo, described the sponsorship as an opportunity to nurture talent and growth, adding that this will assist with the formation of the MTC volleyball premiership.

He said the MTC premiership will be contested by eight male and eight female teams for year one, for which the teams will be provided with branded gear.

‘I was invited to a volleyball match late last year and I was impressed with the passion. This partnership will ensure a strong premiership on the African continent and will diversify our portfolio,’ Ekandjo said.

The president of the Namibian Volleyball Federation, Hilary Imbuwa, expressed gratitude for the sponsorship, saying the expansion of the federation into the MTC Volleyball National League will foster sportsmanship and build a strong sense of community.

‘With MTC’s g
eneral support, we can now expand our reach, enhance the league’s infrastructure and provide even greater opportunities for our athletes to showcase their skills on a national stage. As a federation, we pledge to use these funds transparently, to inspire and contribute to sports in Namibia,’ said Imbuwa.

He said the federation’s goals and objectives would not be achieved without MTC’s support.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

KEETMANSHOOP: Keetmanshoop mayor, McDonald Hanse on Tuesday launched the 2024 edition of the annual Mayoral Cup, set to take place later this year.

While launching the tourney Hanse said sports programmes are powerful vehicles for achieving and advancing development and peace agenda.

‘Let us come together in the spirit of sports, fostering connections and friendships that will endure beyond the boundaries of the sports field. Sport can transform individuals, it bolsters physical, psychological, emotional and social well-being and development,’ he said.

Hanse said currently only one sport code – football – will feature in the tournament. He urged the organising team to come up with other sports codes to add to the annual event.

A member of the tournament organising committee, Owen Vlees said the proposed date for the tourney is 27 April 2024, but it is yet to be finalised.

‘We do not want this tourney to clash with the dates when the first, second and third division leagues resume their games because we w
ill need those teams for the tourney,’ he added.

Vlees said the tournament provides a platform for the youth of the region to showcase their talent and provides scouters with the opportunity to scout for raw talent.

The winners will walk away with N.dollars 25 000 in cash and a floating trophy, while the runner-up will walk away with N.dollars 15 000 and the semi-final losers will each walk away with N.dollars 5 000. The registration fee per team is N.dollars 1 800.

Teams from the first, second, and third divisions and non-league teams are expected to take part in the tourney.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

SAN PEDRO: Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin has said the senior national football team will not depend on other teams to help them qualify for the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Benjamin said this during a media conference ahead of their game against Mali at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro.

The Brave Warriors coach stated that his team is focused and will give it their best.

‘As a team, we have control over our fate in this competition and we cannot wait for others to do us a favour,’ he said.

Benjamin added that the strengths of his team are unity, resilience, speed, hunger, and pride for their nation, therefore they will step onto the field and give everything with the hope of reaching the next round of the qualifiers.

Benjamin also expressed his admiration for the infrastructure and resources in Ivory Coast, which he considers to be some of the best in Africa.

‘It is a beautiful tournament and it is a great time to be alive as our continent is growing at the level where we hav
e sporting infrastructure as those in Europe,’ he said.

Meanwhile, team captain Peter Shalulile said he is happy and blessed to be part of an awesome team at the competition. He hopes that his goal drought at the competition will come to an end soon but emphasised that for now, it is not about him, but about the team.

‘As a player there are times when you struggle to score, but at the moment, it’s not about me. We are a team and we have other talented players who can make our country proud,’ he said, adding that their current focus is on tomorrow’s game against Mali.

Shalulile expressed his pride in captaining the team as they are focused despite coming from a country that did not have a league for a while. He praised the players for being mentally strong and determined to fight.

Namibia is currently third in their group, tied on three points with second-placed South Africa, while Mali leads the group with four points. Tunisia is at the bottom with a single point. Namibia’s last group game will be against
Mali at 19h00 in San Pedro on Wednesday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) announced on Tuesday that its brand, Tafel Lager has launched a series of consumer promotions for the Brave Warriors, starting with activations in Katutura and northern Namibia.

A statement issued by NBL Corporate Affairs Manager, Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said fans can engage in the spirit of the game with the chance to win instant prizes.

Gaomas-Guchu also called on Namibians to rally behind the Tafel Lager Brave Warriors as they make history in the ongoing Afcon 2023/2024 tournament. Brave Warriors recently secured a historic victory against 2004 Afcon champions Tunisia in the group stages, marking Namibia’s first win at the tournament.

‘As a proudly Namibian brand, we are extremely excited to stand behind the Tafel Lager Brave Warriors on their journey at Afcon 2023/2024. This team embodies the heart and soul of our nation. It is incredible to watch them compete on the continental stage and inspire fellow Namibians with their warrior spirit,’ said Gaomas-Guchu.

Foll
owing the brand’s initial event this past weekend, Tafel Lager will continue activations at over 20 outlets nationwide featuring prizes, games, and Tafel Lager Brave Warriors promotional items.

Recently, NBL employees also celebrated the team by showcasing their best supporter gear for the Tafel Lager Brave Warriors.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency