Newspaper Cup goes to Keetmanshoop

THE 2007 edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup will be held in Keetmanshoop, the organisers announced at the weekend.

The tournament, which targets under-20 players from all 13 regions of the country, will be held from April 6 to 9. The annual competition, which will be held for the seventh year, was previously hosted in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Gobabis, Oshakati, Mariental and Walvis Bay.The Namibia Football Association (NFA) said in a statement that bids from the Karas, Kavango and Khomas regions as well as the town councils of Tsumeb and Outjo were considered before a decision was taken.”The NFA and the sponsors are unanimous that the football facilities in Rundu are currently not in a condition where it can host a tournament of that magnitude, particularly looking at the number of matches to be played,” the statement read.It further said the NFA and the sponsors could not consider the bids submitted by the town councils of Outjo and Tsumeb, simply on the grounds that they lacked the support of their regional football authorities, and these and the Khomas bids were not received in time.”The unsuccessful regions are encouraged to submit bids again next year.They are also reminded to work tirelessly, in collaboration with the local government authorities to improve football facilities in the regions,” the organisers said.Keetmanshoop, in the Karas Region, will be the second town in the South to host the tournament.Mariental, in the Hardap Region, had the opportunity to do so in 2005.During the inaugural tournament played in Windhoek in 2001, Omaheke won the cup and defended the title successfully in Otjiwarongo in 2002 .In 2003, Khomas took the title at Gobabis before they once again captured it in Oshakati in 2004.Otjozondjupa were the champions in 2005 when the event took place in Mariental, while Hardap were last year’s winners at Walvis Bay.Hardap took the title after losing out in the final against Otjozondjupa the previous year at Mariental.This year, the sponsorship by The Namibian is expected to reach the N$600 000 mark, after over N$500 000 was dished out last year.During the tournament a shadow team is selected which takes on the Brave Warriors in an exhibition match a day before the finals of the competition.The tournament seeks to find the best under-20 players in the country who in future can complement the national senior teams, and the emphasis is on identifying raw talent and exposing them to mainstream football.The annual competition, which will be held for the seventh year, was previously hosted in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Gobabis, Oshakati, Mariental and Walvis Bay.The Namibia Football Association (NFA) said in a statement that bids from the Karas, Kavango and Khomas regions as well as the town councils of Tsumeb and Outjo were considered before a decision was taken. “The NFA and the sponsors are unanimous that the football facilities in Rundu are currently not in a condition where it can host a tournament of that magnitude, particularly looking at the number of matches to be played,” the statement read.It further said the NFA and the sponsors could not consider the bids submitted by the town councils of Outjo and Tsumeb, simply on the grounds that they lacked the support of their regional football authorities, and these and the Khomas bids were not received in time.”The unsuccessful regions are encouraged to submit bids again next year.They are also reminded to work tirelessly, in collaboration with the local government authorities to improve football facilities in the regions,” the organisers said.Keetmanshoop, in the Karas Region, will be the second town in the South to host the tournament.Mariental, in the Hardap Region, had the opportunity to do so in 2005.During the inaugural tournament played in Windhoek in 2001, Omaheke won the cup and defended the title successfully in Otjiwarongo in 2002 .In 2003, Khomas took the title at Gobabis before they once again captured it in Oshakati in 2004.Otjozondjupa were the champions in 2005 when the event took place in Mariental, while Hardap were last year’s winners at Walvis Bay.Hardap took the title after losing out in the final against Otjozondjupa the previous year at Mariental.This year, the sponsorship by The Namibian is expected to reach the N$600 000 mark, after over N$500 000 was dished out last year.During the tournament a shadow team is selected which takes on the Brave Warriors in an exhibition match a day before the finals of the competition.The tournament seeks to find the best under-20 players in the country who in future can complement the national senior teams, and the emphasis is on identifying raw talent and exposing them to mainstream football.