Newspaper Cup gets Sam Nujoma green light

By: CORRY IHUHUA

THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) confirmed that the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura will be the venue of this year’s edition of the famous Namibian Newspaper Cup over the Easter Weekend.

Yesterday, the NFA’s chief tournament co-ordinator, Titus Kunamuene, confirmed that the venue, which has an Astroturf surface, will host the popular event which attracts the best under-20 players from all the regions.
“We had a meeting with the City of Windhoek, the consultants and the contractors and we in principle agreed that the Sam Nujoma Stadium will be used for the Newspaper Cup between April 10 and 13,” he said.
The confirmation comes after queries about the ongoing construction around the venue, but Kunamuene said that would not affect the tournament at all.
“There will be different entry and exit points at the venue away from the construction area. We can guarantee the safety of the spectators and the players,” he said.
The competition will be launched next week Wednesday at Windhoek’s Post Street Mall.
The total investment in the competition is about N$1 million and mainly caters for the accommodation, travel costs and meals of all the players from the regions, while money will also go towards the administration, promotion and prizes for the competition.
Players will be based at the Youth Hostel, Higher Technical School (HTS) and match officials will be stationed at the Tabitha Centre.

SELECTION

NFA chief executive officer Barry Rukoro said most regions have already started selecting the players who will be involved in the competition.
“We have set specific dates for all the regions to submit their final squads and so far most regions are on course with the process of identifying the best players who will be involved in this competition,” he said.
According to Rukoro, the competition will strictly cater for under-20 players, with no guest players allowed.
“We want to prepare these players for the All-Africa Games next year and the Olympic Games in 2010,” he said.
The competition did not take place last year and is being held for the eighth time this year.
Windhoek will be hosting the event for the second time after it also hosted the inaugural edition in 2001.
The event was previously held Walvis Bay in the Erongo Region, Oshakati (Oshana), Gobabis (Omaheke), Otjiwarongo (Otjozondjupa), Mariental (Hardap) and Keetmanshoop (Karas).
Gwen Lister, Editor of The Namibian, says the tournament forms part of the company’s social responsibility programme, which includes support for the annual The Namibian/Model Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic and the Youthpaper, a weekly publication targeting the development of the country’s youth.
The tournament simultaneously promotes the development of women’s soccer with a match featuring two teams playing in a curtain raiser before the finals.
For this year, the much-anticipated match between the Brave Warriors and the The Namibian Shadow Team will be featured separately to give the youngsters enough time to recuperate before taking on the national stars.
corry@namibian.com.na

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