Kunene Football League chairman Marshall Gomeb says they will use the momentum generated from winning the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup to fuel their development efforts.
The region claimed honours for the first time in the under-20 men’s football competition’s history after defeating Kavango West 2-0 in an entertaining final spectacle that had spectators on their toes for most of the game on 21 April.
The victory also marked the first time a woman coach, Mammie Kasaona, had led a side to Newspaper Cup glory.
Speaking to Desert FM recently, Gomeb said the focal point going forward is to ensure that they remain competitive through the introduction of football academies in the region.
“We are here for the love of the game. The current governor, Vipuakuje Muharukua, promised to be aggressive in the development of football,” he said.
“With the introduction of the football academies in the region, they will serve as the feeders for the third division regional football league.”
It will also ensure that several players of the historic Newspaper Cup-winning side get regular game time to remain sharp ahead of next year’s title-defence, Gomeb said.
Kunene’s regional football leadership also intends to scout for talent in all seven constituencies for potential talent to replenish the current team.
“We will build on the current winning champions. To successfully retain the trophy, the current crop of players will take part in tournaments,” he explained.
“Well thought of preparation is vital and we have no intention of jumping in with no strategy but start preparing very early for next year.”
Following another limp group exit when the competition was held at Gobabis, in the Omaheke region last year, Gomeb said the Kunene regional football hierarchy immediately began working on a solution to improve their fortunes.
“We held a meeting on the very day the final took place,” he said of how the plan to conquer the tournament took shape.
Part of the grand plan was to rope in a coach with a youth football profile.
“We decided to plan very early for this year’s Newspaper Cup. Gobabis was the turning point for us as a region. Yes, we tried to get hold of both the players and coaches at the time,” Gomeb said.
“We approached Kasaona and it turned out that she was the most qualified and we decided to try and see what she can do. Oh, and did she not deliver?
“She owns a football academy and also coached during the Rhyno Cup at Sesfontein and now works as an assistant coach for the Debmarine Namibia Premiership club Blue Waters.”
The Newspaper Cup’s success has seen the region’s residents united in rallying behind the team.
“We have now agreed to work together and bring in more members for the regional third football division where we can select new talent for the future,” Gomeb said.
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