Outjo Cricket Festival kicks off

THE Outjo Cricket Festival which is held annually during independence weekend kicked off at the Etoshapoort Stadium on Saturday.

This year’s tournament is called ‘Developing our future stars,’ and sees eight u10 and u13 teams from Tigers, Cheetahs, Wolves, Leopards, Young Royals, Young Eagles, Zebra’s and Lions who are vying for the trophy and medals at the three-day event.

According to Tuhafenu Wilhelm, development officer of Cricket Namibia, the tournament is now in its fourth year while it is held to develop cricket and to promote it.

"This is an opportunity to identify the best players in different age groups," Wilhelm told The Namibian.

More than eighty players from Jack Francis Primary School, Marchel Primary School and Outjo Primary School, who were selected earlier this month after trials in Outjo, are taking part in the tournament.

Diana Musangu (12) said that the tournament is a ‘good’ way to develop the players’ skills and also to keep them (players) fit.

The tournament’s main sponsor is Cricket Namibia, while Built It provided tents.

Due to a lack of funding there will be no cash prizes, but a trophy and medals are up for grabs for the top three teams.

Wilhelm thanked the sponsors and also called upon more sponsorship from the business community to make the tournament bigger. Parents were also called upon to support their children to keep on playing cricket.

A community worker is on standby to tend to injuries as well as to educate the players on Covid-19.

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