Keetmanshoop: Defending champions in both football and netball at the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, Kunene and Kavango East, have declared themselves ready to travel to the ||Kharas Region to defend the titles they secured last year.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the 24th edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup is scheduled to take place from 03 to 06 April 2026 in Keetmanshoop in the ||Kharas Region. The annual tournament will bring together Under-20 (U20) football and netball teams representing all 14 regions of Namibia.
In the football division, reigning champions Kunene have been drawn in Group D alongside Zambezi and Omusati. In the netball competition, Kavango East will compete in Group B, where they face Oshikoto, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Oshana, and Kavango West.
Kunene Region football coach Simon Haradoeb said the team resumed training camp on Friday in preparation for the tournament, following their participation in the Outjo Football Academy U20 competition last weekend, which they won. 'The victory has boosted the morale of the squad. We have retained a number of players from last year's title-winning team, while also introducing new talent, including a 15-year-old striker, who is the youngest member of the squad,' he said, adding that the team's objective is to progress as far as possible in the competition.
Meanwhile, Kavango East netball assistant coach Edeltraud 'Letty' Mupiri expressed confidence that her side would successfully defend their crown. 'This trophy belongs to us, and we intend to defend it with everything we have. Kavango East is a strong netball region, and our goal is to keep the trophy. We have assembled a well-balanced squad that blends experience with youthful energy. During the selection process, we ensured that every girl in Kavango East had an opportunity to compete for a place in the team,' she said.
Nedbank Namibia's Communications and Public Relations Manager, Selma Kaulinge, said the tournament's hosting model contributes not only to athlete development but also to improvements in sporting infrastructure. 'The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup brings top talent together in one location. It offers a rare opportunity for national selectors and club scouts to identify players who might otherwise go unnoticed in remote areas. It also exposes young athletes to high-pressure, competitive environments, helping them transition from school-level sport to professional standards,' Kaulinge said.