Teams are hard at work with their final preparations as they gear up for Namibia’s pre-eminent youth development project, the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, which kicks off at Keetmanshoop over Easter weekend.
For 25 years, The Namibian Newspaper Cup, now with the generous sponsorship of Nedbank and the Namibian government, has blazed a trail in corporate social responsibility projects in the country.
The project, started by The Namibian’s founding editor, Gwen Lister, is a way of giving back to the community which supported it at a time when it was not popular – it was, in fact, dangerous to do so.
The tournament has since grown into a juggernaut.
The entrance of the government as a partner in the 2010s helped put the tournament on another level.
Regions and towns pull out the stops in competing to host the event.
They know the tournament not only attracts massive numbers of people, apart from the more than 400 under-20 football and netball players who need accommodation and meals.
It also provides a significant boost to local economies.
Players stay at local school hostels or other types of accommodation, and sport infrastructure is upgraded and refurbished.
Business at shops and other outlets is boosted.
With many well-funded social responsibility projects failing to see sustained success, this tournament points the way.
Apart from being a successful jamboree that brings good vibes and fantastic football and netball, many participants, especially footballers, have been able to take the next step to professional contracts after being spotted at the tournament.
Long live the tournament as an inspiring initiative built on the efforts and enthusiasm of the country’s government, communities, corporate sector and young people!
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