Windhoek: The fourth edition of the Oviwondo football tournament, hosted by Elite Pioneers, is set to begin this Friday at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Technical Centre in Windhoek. Competition organiser Ukorua Kanguatjivi told Nampa the event has drawn 30 teams from across the country.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Kanguatjivi said the tournament serves as a vital platform for social networking, cultural preservation, and the promotion of physical fitness among participants. The competition will follow a knockout format after an initial group stage.
The games start at 16h45 on Friday, with Otjongungo facing Otjomatupa ua Harunga Tom. This will be followed by a matchup between Otjokaurumbu of Otjinene and Eyoviwondo from Okakarara. The evening continues with Onyose Yongwa C clashing against Epukiro's Otjakapuuo, while Otjombinde's Eyoviwondo will face Omazemburukiro ua Hamakari in the final match of the day.
Organisers have also scheduled relay sprints between matches. The festivities expand on Saturday with a diverse lineup of entertainment and additional sports, including tug-of-war competitions held during football intervals.
"We will also have musical performances from the Ongoro Nomundu group on Saturday to entertain the crowd and create a good atmosphere during the event," Kanguatjivi said. The event also aims to boost the local economy by providing stalls for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to sell food and various products.
The tournament champions will receive a trophy, N.dollars 5 000 in cash, and 20 gold medals. The runners-up will take home N.dollars 3 500, while both losing semifinalists will receive N.dollars 1 500.
Confidence is high among the visiting teams, including Otjakapuuo from Epukiro. Head coach Celle Katjivikua stated that his squad is fully prepared, noting that while his diverse roster of players is still arriving in the capital, they have been training since last week.
Spectators can attend the opening matches on Friday for an entry fee of N.dollars 30, while Saturday's tickets are priced at N.dollars 40. Vezemba Rodman Katjaimo, the Katutura Central Constituency Councillor, is expected to officiate the proceedings. The tournament will conclude with final matches on Sunday.