Newspaper Cup gains momentum

Excitement is building around the regular four-day Easter soccer bonanza now just around the corner.

The Namibian Newspaper Cup takes centre stage in Windhoek over the Easter weekend, a competition where many young football talents from all the 13 regions are unleashed as they slug it out for the top spot.
At least 300 unpolished diamonds will converge on the Sam Nujoma Stadium’s Astroturf in Katutura to impress domestic football club scouts and national team selectors over four days of free football for all.
The editor of The Namibian, Gwen Lister, said at the launch of the event, that this is a great opportunity for the players to be snapped up into the national fold.
Although many players who will compete for the regional title will be under 20 years of age, Lister believes that playing in front of large crowds and numerous selectors is not only an honour, but a privilege as they are the selected few from all the regions to showcase their hidden talents.
‘Over the nine years we hosted this competition, we have been delighted to see these young players making a great impact on the field of play, while some of them have carved themselves places into the various national teams,’ she said.
Lister, whose company will inject close to N$1 million into the competition this year, urged all football lovers – young and old, families and anyone who has a passion for the game – to turn up at the stadium in numbers.
‘Stay out of the bars and come to the stadium to watch these matches which are for free over the four days. You are guaranteed of top-class football from these youngsters as they have demonstrated over the years,’ she said.
Minister of Sport Willem Konjore was full of praise for the competition, saying that the tournament is the fruit of successful collaboration between The Namibian and the Namibia Football Association (NFA).
‘While thanking The Namibian, this should serve as encouragement to the NFA to continue similar collaborations with other institutions to benefit continued development of our young people,’ he said.
He said the NFA and The Namibian need to stress that football provides the perfect vehicle to transmit interests of sponsors to the general public, but equally the game of the people must be used to inform the people about the devils of society such as HIV-AIDS and others.
He thanked The Namibian for its timely and much-needed assistance to the NFA and football development in general. See more on page 31.
corry@namibian.com.na