All eyes on PstBet NFA Cup 

The football spotlight will be on the PstBet NFA Cup this weekend, as the big boys look to navigate the unfamiliar challenge posed by little-known lower league opponents.

The first batch of cup ties will take place on Sunday at Grootfontein’s Omulunga Stadium and the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, with the remainder of the clashes to be concluded on 11 and 12 May.

Ongos, who finished second in the just concluded Debmarine Namibia Premiership, face the Oshana Second Division side African United in the first match at Grootfontein on Sunday morning.

That will be followed by a clash between Northwest First Division outfit Golden Bigs and topflight club Young African, before the all-premiership battle between Tigers and Unam closes out the action.

In Windhoek, Youngsters from the //Kharas Second Division will be looking to upstage Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) side Okahandja United in the opening match at Independence Stadium, with another NPFL team in Julinho taking on Friends from the Hardap Second Division in the second match.

The remaining fixtures sees more match-ups involving third tier sides against topflight clubs, with Hamutu Mbangula from Ohangwena battling Young Brazilians, as Khomas Nampol face Swallows FC from Khomas.

After retaining their premiership crown, African Stars will start their quest for a double, attempting to avoid an upset from Khaibasen, who are representing the Kunene second division to end the action.

Speaking at the competition’s launch recently, PstBet chief executive Steve Hamunyela highlighted the importance of backing the FA Cup, which is valued at N$6 million.

“Given the success of the recent Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup in Gobabis, we are encouraged to see so many talented young footballers coming through the ranks. We at PstBet believe in creating spaces and platforms to enable the Namibian child to perform at her or his highest peak. The competition will see many talented players gradually cement their place in top clubs and the national teams,” Hamunyela said.

The winner of the men’s competition will receive N$500 000, the runners-up N$200 000, the third-placed team N$100 000 and the fourth-placed team N$50 000, while there will also be individual awards for the player of the tournament (N$15 000), the top goalscorer (N$10 000 ), the top goalkeeper (N$10 000), the referee of the tournament (N$10 000) and the assistant referee of the tournament (N$5 000).