Youth football, volleyball tourney at Omuthiya
By Marx Itamalo
OMUTHIYA town in Oshikoto is set to be a hive of sporting activity as a major regional youth football and volley tournament is expected to take place there this weekend.
The much anticipated sporting event is expected to attract teams from the traditional northern regions of Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and the neighbouring Kavango West.
The tournament will take place starting tomorrow until Sunday at the Omuthiya sports field.
According to one of the organisers Sam Mushelenga, the tournament will feature under-17 and under-20 teams from the regions. “This is strictly a youth event organised with the aim of youth development.
We want to meet the government half way in bringing sporting activities to the youth in our northern regions,” Mushelenga told Confidente Sport on Monday.
Prize money amounting to tens of thousands of dollars will be up for grabs including medals. Registration fee for both the under-17 and under-20 boys’ football and volleyball regional teams is set at N$ 750 per team. Apart from the regional teams, local youths will also get an opportunity to showcase their talents. Local football and volleyball teams will need to register for N$500, according to Mushelenga.
Winners in each regional team category will walk away with prize money of N$4 000, a floating trophy and 25 gold medals. The runners up will get N 000 and 25 silver medals.
The third placed team in each category will be consoled with N$2 000, while the well behaved teams in the each category will be rewarded with N$ 1 000 in cash.
Winners in the local categories are guaranteed N$2 000 in cash while runners up will go home with N$1 400. Those that lose in the semi-finals will take home N$800.
Mushelenga called on local youths to register their teams and for the local community to support the event.
“This will not only give an opportunity to the youth to showcase their talents but this event will also boost the economy of the town,” he said pointing out that the tournament will also be a good opportunity for regional soccer teams to select and prepare their players who will represent their respected regions at The Namibian Newspaper Cup slated for April at Oshakati.
Mushelenga further added that they intend making the tournament an annual event should enough sponsors come on board.
“Our aim is to make it an annual event.
Currently we have people who are sympathetic to our cause and that are willing to assist in many different ways. If we get more people on board, no doubt we will succeed in making it an annual regional event,” he concluded.
Those that want to register their teams can contact Mushelenga at 0812355980, David at 0811241664, Iyaloo at 0815509132 or Chocco at 0814083075 for more information.