NFA Galz and Goals Festival attracts crowds in Karasburg

On 17 May, more than 312 young girls participated in the under-13 and 15 NFA Galz and Goals Football and Healthy Lifestyle Festival tournament in Karasburg. Around 500 participants, coaches, parents and supporters attended the tournament.

Councillor Dennis Coetzee encouraged the Karasburg District Community to stand behind the noble idea of creating a colourful football and healthy lifestyle event which has the capacity and value to attract many young girls to spend their time productively when they are away from school and their household duties.

The Karas Football Regional Chairman, Harry Jahs, handed over trophies, medals and Galz and Goals fun and educational material to the winners together with representatives from NFA Galz and Goals partners; Karas Spar, UNICEF, UNAIDS and SCORE.

Jahs could not hide his excitement about the festival and said that these kinds of programmes lift the standard of football in the region.

“The girls here are very talented and the coaches who have been trained over the past six days must train their teams on a regular basis so that we keep the girls on par with the rest of the country,” Jahs said.

FIFA Instructor Jacqui Shipanga, who facilitated the football coaching course for the coaches in Karasburg, said those trained, delivered the best festival ever with their great organisational skills and enthusiasm.

Fun and educational healthy lifestyle activities were offered to participants and spectators at the event. SCORE Namibia and UNAIDS facilitated ‘Protect the Goal’ competitions, and Kicking AIDS Out games as part of the Galz & Goals programme’s focus on educating young girls on healthy lifestyles. The coaches were trained in healthy lifestyle coaching by SCORE as part of the festival.

Karasburg Hospital provided first aid and HIV counselling and testing at the festival and the Namibia Police controlled the event’s safety and security.

Ernst Jager Combined School clinched both the under-13 and under-15 titles at the festival with style. Lordsville Youngsters with brilliant performances and players aged eight to twelve lost 1-0 to Ernst Jager on penalties in the final. Karasburg High School’s under-15 team ended as number two after losing 4-5 on penalties in the final.

The under-15 third place went to the travelling Noordoewer Youngsters with Karasburg Primary School securing third place in the under-13 tournament.

All participating schools received Galz and Goals healthy lifestyle information kits for their school libraries.

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