Cool half a million for FNB Cup

WINDHOEK – One of the country’s leading financial institutions, First National Bank (FNB), pumped a massive N$500 000 into this year’s FNB Soccer Cup.

The announcement was made by the group chief executive officer of FNB Namibia Holdings, Vekuii Rukoro, at the official launch at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Wednesday evening. N$300 000 was earmarked for prize money, with the winning team in line to pocket a cool N$170 000 and the runners-up N$ 70 000.The two semi-final losers will each receive N$20 000.The event was attended by the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, former Prime Minister and Patron of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Hage Geingob, NFA Executive Member Jacky Gertze, Namibia Premier League (NPL) Chairman Peter van Wyk and Miss Namibia 2006, Anna Nashandi.Namibian National Olympic Committee (NNOC) president Agnes Tjongarero was also present.Mutorwa congratulated the NFA executive committee on having resolved the infighting within football and thanked the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) for having been patient and understanding when the football family had their problems.Representatives from the 16 participating teams were also present at the event.The first stage of the competition will see the two newly promoted teams to the elite league, Friends and Golden Bees, playing against each other over the weekend of November 18 and 19 in Mariental, while African Stars are pitted against township foes Tigers at the same venue.Defending champions Blue Waters will take on Eleven Arrows in the cattle town of Gobabis on either November 25 and 26.The semi-finals and the final are billed for the capital on December 9 and December 16.The launch was marked by a friendly match between the Orlando Pirates junior team and their Black Africa counterparts.Black Africa won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a one-all draw.The fixtures are as follows: Mariental – November 18-19 Friends vs Golden Bees Black Africa vs Invincible African Stars vs Tigers Deportivo Alaves vs SKW Gobabis – November 25 – 26 Orlando Pirates vs Oshakati City Civics vs Mighty Gunners Eleven Arrows vs Blue Waters Robber Chanties vs RamblersN$300 000 was earmarked for prize money, with the winning team in line to pocket a cool N$170 000 and the runners-up N$ 70 000.The two semi-final losers will each receive N$20 000.The event was attended by the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, former Prime Minister and Patron of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Hage Geingob, NFA Executive Member Jacky Gertze, Namibia Premier League (NPL) Chairman Peter van Wyk and Miss Namibia 2006, Anna Nashandi.Namibian National Olympic Committee (NNOC) president Agnes Tjongarero was also present.Mutorwa congratulated the NFA executive committee on having resolved the infighting within football and thanked the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) for having been patient and understanding when the football family had their problems.Representatives from the 16 participating teams were also present at the event.The first stage of the competition will see the two newly promoted teams to the elite league, Friends and Golden Bees, playing against each other over the weekend of November 18 and 19 in Mariental, while African Stars are pitted against township foes Tigers at the same venue.Defending champions Blue Waters will take on Eleven Arrows in the cattle town of Gobabis on either November 25 and 26.The semi-finals and the final are billed for the capital on December 9 and December 16.The launch was marked by a friendly match between the Orlando Pirates junior team and their Black Africa counterparts.Black Africa won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a one-all draw.The fixtures are as follows: Mariental – November 18-19 Friends vs Golden Bees Black Africa vs Invincible African Stars vs Tigers Deportivo Alaves vs SKW Gobabis – November 25 – 26 Orlando Pirates vs Oshakati City Civics vs Mighty Gunners Eleven Arrows vs Blue Waters Robber Chanties vs Ramblers