||Kharas aims to host spectacular show 

It was try, try and try again for the ||Kharas region, but now that the region is finally hosting The Namibian Newspaper Cup, they are determined to stage an unforgettable experience.

The 24th edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup will be hosted at Westdene Stadium at Keetmanshoop from 3 to 6 April, and ||Kharas football region chairperson Emrico Blaauw says it was a long time coming.

“Remember, we already bid twice to host this cup – first it went to Gobabis in 2024, and then last year it went to Kunene, but now we were successful, so it was a three-year project this time around,” he says.

“When we bid the first time I was just the regional secretary, but the following year I became the chairperson of the ||Kharas football region, so to win the bid while I’m at the helm of football is an ecstatic feeling, it’s something for the records and it’s going to be exceptional,” he says.

It will be the third time that Keetmanshoop will host the NNC following 2007 and 2012 and Blaauw says they want to host a special event.

“It’s going to be one for the books. Keetmanshoop hosted the best Newspaper Cup ever in 2012 – that is on record, the NFA said so, so we want to emulate that and make it even better because you cant go back, you have to go forward,” he says.

Blaauw says preparations are on track.

“The preparations are still ongoing, but we are 100% done with the new lights, and about 80% with the football fields and netball court renovations – that should be finished in a week’s time.

“We resurfaced the netball court, while the grass on the football fields was removed and re-planted. It was a big job costing about N$3.5 million, which the Keetmanshoop municipality has to pay, so we are requesting the private sector to assist us with that, as well as with our football and netball teams that are preparing for the competition,” he says.

Blaauw says some renovations to the hostels where the teams will be staying still had to be done.

“The hostels were renovated last year, but after we hosted the Governor’s Cup in January, there were some minor damages. For instance, some of the doors did not have locks and there wasn’t a door at the entrance to the shower, but with the Newspaper Cup it is a must that there must be a door, so the contractor is busy fixing it now,” he says.

Regarding their football team, Blaauw says preparations will kick off in earnest from this weekend.

“We selected 35 players from the Governors Cup, then we trimmed it down to 25, but we still need to trim it down to 20. That’s why this camp is coming up on Sunday and then we start preparing in earnest from Monday,” he says.

“But the players are active as we speak, playing for their teams, mostly in the first, second and third divisions, so this weekend will be the last with their teams, before they come in to start camping,” he says.

The ||Kharas region has only won the cup once – in 2019 – but Blaauw says now that they finally got the hosting rights, he is determined to win it again.

“When we won it in 2019 it was the first time that I was involved with the team, and now that I’m the chairperson I’m determined to win it again.

“I didn’t fight for three years just to play. I fought for three years to win the cup,” he says.

The coach of ||Kharas’ football team, Hendrick ‘Tolla” Julius, says he was excited about the prospect of being the head coach, after being promoted from the assistant coaching role.

“It’s the first time that I am the head coach – I was previously the assistant coach, so I’m very excited – I’m just waiting for that moment and I’m ready for the team.

“We have about 10 players that are still available from last year’s team, so we will have experience, while we have also been drawn against the same regions as last year, so we know what to expect. But their physicality is a problem, because our players in the south are small and short, so we are working on our touches and quick passes,” he says.

Julius says the home crowd support should play a big role.

“I think that will be a big boost for us, because I saw last year, it was because of the home crowd that we lost against Kunene in the semi-finals.

“We haven’t held the cup for a long time now, so I think the people of ||Kharas are hungry for football and the home support will be very important,” he says.

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