Okahandja: Okahandja-based outfit, Future Stars Football Academy has confirmed that national rising stars will participate in this weekend's highly anticipated under-15 football tournament at Okahandja.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the newly established football academy focuses on youth development through sports to keep young children off the streets and away from undesirable activities. This tournament will be its second edition, following the successful hosting of the under-17 tournament in Okahandja in June, which they won.
The academy's founder and owner, Alpha Murangi, confirmed to Nampa on Tuesday that everything is in place as they aim to expose young talents to a national platform, potentially leading them to greater opportunities with established national clubs and abroad. 'The aim is straightforward - to expose young emerging talents to the top football clubs in the country and possibly to the national team setups. We must come together to help these young boys realise their true talents while keeping them off the streets. I believe that sports will serve as that unifying factor, which is why we are planning to host the weekend tournament at least twice a year,' said Murangi.
He expressed that development should start at the grassroots level, particularly in schools, a culture which he stressed has been neglected for too long. He challenged others to revive the traditions of national football tournaments, such as the Coca-Cola Cup, saying a robust development system needs to be established, similar to those in other countries, like South Africa, to foster better citizens through sports and instil positive values like respect and discipline.
He confirmed that, so far, 16 football academies and schools from across the country have secured their spots, at a fee of N.dollars 800, with more expected to join before Friday. The tournament has been made possible with support from First National Bank, Social Security, as well as Model, Spar, and Shoprite. The winning team will receive N.dollars 2 000, a trophy, and gold medals. The runner-up will earn N.dollars 1 500 and silver medals, while the third-place team will take home N.dollars 800 and bronze medals. The games will take place at the Okahandja and Nau-Aib Stadiums.