Okahandja Park football league ends in June

FOR nearly three years, the country’s top flight football has been at a standstill due to infighting, however football in the informal settlements of Windhoek is flourishing thanks to the hard work and dedication from those spearheading the sport in those areas.

A good example of this is the ongoing activity in Okahandja Park informal settlement that currently runs a league called the Tobias Hainyeko Soccer Football League that is expected to come to an end next month.

The league which started last year has 20 teams, with each team contributing N$3 500 towards the cause.

The winners of the league will walk away with N$19 000, an amount that is almost close to the league winners in the Namibian Football Association (NFA) second division that pockets not more than N$30 000.

Second placed team in the league will get N 000, third position N 000, fourth N 000 and fifth placed team gets N 000.

League coordinator Mathew Kanyanga, who is also a FIFA top assistant referee, said that the aim is for the country to have a third division like in other countries.

He said the league also helps keep the youth away from bars, alcohol abuse and criminal activities.

“We are expected to finish the league in June, as we want to start with the new league immediately after this one. We have about eight to seven games left depending on the fixtures. 

“We want other leagues in Havana, Otjomuise, Goreangab and Dordabis … we want to reach out to the NFA in order to make our league the third division because currently in the second division no team gets relegated even if they do not honour their matches,” said Kanyanga.

He added that the league was also creating jobs in the informal settlement with vendors selling their various goodies on match days.

Kwenye United are topping the log with 71 points from 30 matches, followed by Y/Fighters on 66 points from 31 matches and third are Super 11 with 64 points from 29 matches.

Meanwhile, last weekend was a hive of activity as the informal settlement of Greenwell Matongo hosted the first Top Score Cup that was won by Ondobe Football Club.

Ondobe defeated Rasta 3-0 in the final to walk away with N$10 000 plus a floating trophy and winners’ medals, while Rasta received N$7 000 plus silver medals, and third placed team United Boys -coached by Helena Nkandi- received N$3 000 plus bronze medals. All three teams also received playing gear.

Organisers of the Top Score Cup have said that they are looking at expanding the competition to other informal settlements.

Below are the results and fixtures in the Tobias Hainyeko Soccer League:

07 May and 08 May

Muramba took three points off Flamingo who did not show up, Lyambethi 0-3 Kwenye, Katima 1-1 Super Star, Likuwa 1-3 Wetu, D Eagle 1-0 KP Legend, Mazana 1-4 Catalyst, Y/Kango 0-0 Touch n  Pass, Lyambethi 0-1 Daptors, Eastern 3-3 Muramba, G/Boys 2-4 Flamingo and Y/Fighters 3-0 K West.

Fixtures: 14 May/15 May

Super Star vs Wetu, Katima vs Kp Legend, Likuwa vs Kwenye, Eastern vs Y/Fighter, Super 11 vs Daptors, Y/Kango vs Catalyst, Lyambethi vs Flamingo, Mazana vs K West, G/Boysvs Muramba, D Eagles vs Touch n Pass, Wetu vs Kp Legend and Super Star vs Kwenye.