‘Winner takes all’ MTC Maris Cup launched 

The MTC Maris Cup was launched in Windhoek yesterday with the winners set to receive a record N$1,5 million. 

The in-season cup competition will see all 16 Debmarine Premier League teams in action in the tournament which will have the most prize money for the winners in the history of Namibian football. 

MTC Maris is a subsidiary of MTC that focusses on mobile financial services, through which one can send and receive money, and make bill and salary payments amongst others. 

The Round of 16 knockout matches will kick off on 25 and 26 January 2026, while the quarterfinals will be held on 1 and 2 February. The semifinals will be held on 15 and 16 February and the final on 1 March, while the venues still have to be finalised. 

Tim Ekandjo of MTC said that each team will receive an allowance of N$30 000 in preparation fees for each match that they will play, to help them prepare and to travel, while the finalists will each receive N$40 000. The player of the tournament, the top goal scorer and the top goalkeeper of the tournament will each receive N$20 000.

Besides this there will also be special prizes for football fans and the participating teams according to Ekandjo. 

“Six lucky fans will win N$5 000 in Maris money, all you have to do as a fan is to look at the MTC Maris product and come up with an innovative way of marketing the product in your own way. You post it and the MTC Maris team will look at the best entries and you will stand a chance to win N$5 000 in Maris money,” he said. 

“We also have another exciting prize which is for the 16 premier league teams. One of them will walk away with N$30 000 and all this team has to do on a volunatry basis is to get their players and coaching staff together, and say what is the most innovative way as a team that we can market this product,” he added. 

“This is a very brutal cup competition but also a very exciting one as the winner will walk away with the biggest prize money in Namibian history and it’s going to be winner takes all,” he said. 

Football fans will be allowed free entrance as long as they register for Maris using the code *140*682#

The secretary general of the Namibia Football Association, Charles Siyauya, speaking on behalf of its president Robert Shimooshiili thanked MTC for their continued support of Namibian football. 

“The MTC Maris Cup is a landmark event for Namibian football – it promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament that will showcase the skills and passion of our local players to the international world. This sponsorship comes at a crucial time when our nation years for the return of football in our stadiums. The MTC Maris Cuop wil not only revive the excitement of the beautiful game but will also provide our national teams with a platform to sharpen their skills and prepare for future challenges,” he said. 

“As we embark on this new chapter in Namibian football we urge all football fans to come out in full force and support their favourite teams. Let us welcome this opportunity to celebrate the beautiful game of football and unite as a nation. Together we can make MTC Maris Cup a resounding success and inspire future generations of football players,” he added.

The draw for the competition was made with some interesting match-ups for the Round of 16. 

Namibia’s defending league and cup champions African Stars will take on premiership newcomers Blue Boys, while league runners-up FC Ongos will take on another newcomer in Cuca Tops. 

Khomas Nampol will take on the third newcomer to the premier league, KK Palace, while Unam will face Eeshoke Chula Chula.

Mighty Gunners will take on Tigers, Okahandja United will take on Blue Waters, Young African will face Young Brazilians, and Civics will take on Julinho Sporting.