Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup launched

The 24th edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup is set to kick off from 3-6 April at Keetmanshoop, bringing together under-20 football and netball teams from all 14 regions of Namibia to showcase emerging talent and foster regional sports development.

The regional rivalries were revealed during the official draw held at the Nedbank Namibia head office in Windhoek this week.

The 2025 football champion, the Kunene region is slotted in Group D, alongside Zambezi and Omusati. Coach Verikondjera ‘Mammie’ Kasaona recently confirmed to The Namibian Sport that she will not be coaching the defending champions.

Runners-up Kavango West, who defeated Khomas in the third place playoffs, are pitted in Group B with Oshikoto, Ohangwena and host ||Kharas region.

Khomas on the other hand, will have the trouble of overcoming archrivals Erongo and Oshana in Group C.

Almost certain to be the spectacle group of death is Group A, which features the Kavango East, Hardap, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions.

In the netball draw defending champions Kavango East, strongly supported by deputy of minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Dino Ballotti, will have a daunting task to overcome when they take on the likes of Omaheke, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Oshana and Kavango West in Group B.

Omaheke will certainly be looking at the scalp of Kavango East after their bitter encounter in the 2025 final.

Ohangwena, who came third overall in the netball competition after beating the 2024 champions Khomas, are in Group A. They will have to test their skill and talent against equally good opponents host ||Kharas, Hardap, Omusati, Ohangwena, Erongo and Kunene.

The Namibian founding editor Gwen Lister at the official launch reiterated the importance of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup.

She said the grassroots development tournament was established to give opportunities to young girls and boys to showcase their talent, and for national teams and club coaches to scout for talent.

Lister said the tournament expanded in 2018 when netball was introduced to equally give young girls the opportunity to show their talent.

She said the idea back then was to plough back into the communities that have long supported The Namibian since 1985, and that the tournament economically impacted various communities in towns where it was hosted during the four days of the Easter Weekend.

The Newspaper Cup continues to stand as one of the country’s longstanding youth sport competitions. It plays a vital role in developing future national athletes while uplifting regional communities through infrastructure development and economic stimulation.

The sport ministry continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring inclusive participation across all regions. Beyond providing transport and accommodation for all 14 regional teams, the ministry also actively participates in the renovation and upgrading of local school hostels, which serve as athlete accommodation during the tournament.

In addition, the ministry contributes to the upgrading of sport grounds in the host town to ensure they meet competition standards, improvements that continue benefiting communities long after the event ends.

Ballotti said: “Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to Nedbank Namibia and The Namibian for the unwavering commitment to youth, sport development in Namibia.”

“I am almost certain that this is the longest running sport tournament where the partnership between private sector, the media, the football and netball fraternity, has ensured that young players from every region of Namibia have a platform to showcase their talent and pursue their reams.”

Nedbank managing director Martha Murura said: “As part of its long-standing commitment to nation-building, Nedbank Namibia remains the proud title sponsor of the tournament. Over the years, the bank has consistently invested in sport ranging from cycling, football, netball, and athletics to community based sporting initiatives.

“Through platforms like the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, Nedbank continues to champion opportunities that nurture young talent and promote social progress across Namibia. Every year, the Nedbank Newspaper Cup reminds us that when we come together, government, private sector, the media, sporting bodies, and communities, we create platforms that can transform lives.

“The aim of the cup was to discover, develop young football teams from all 14 regions of Namibia. Over the years it has become one of Namibia’s biggest grassroots sporting events,” Murorua said.

||Kharas governor David Gertze welcomes the bid to host the 2026 Newspaper Cup.

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Namibia Football Association and to the sponsors Nedbank Namibia and the newspaper cup committee for entrusting us with this honour.

“This initiative blends perfectly into the vision and mission of the eighth administration in relation to youth and sport, as part of its fundamental pillars on which our future is built.”

The Newspaper Cup has a proven track record of producing outstanding national players. Both football and netball competitions serve as scouting grounds for national under20 teams, with numerous alumni having gone on to represent Namibia internationally.

Beyond talent identification, the tournament fosters unity, builds regional pride, and strengthens local economies as supporters travel to host towns.

“As the host for the 2026 edition, Keetmanshoop is preparing to welcome hundreds of athletes, officials, and supporters. Upgrades to facilities and local service infrastructure are already underway, reaffirming the town’s commitment to delivering a successful and memorable tournament,” the governor says.

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