The Otjombinde and Otjinene all-stars teams won the 21st edition of the annual Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation tournament for football and netball respectively over the weekend at the Khomasdal Sports Field in Windhoek.

The tournament held on Saturday and Sunday managed to attract 11 netball and 12 football teams from different rural areas, who saw them battle it out for the amount of N.dollars 43 000, of which N.dollars 13 000 was set aside for the netball category and N.dollars 30 000 for the football category.

According to tournament organiser Kaiko Kandjou, the event was a success and no hiccups were experienced, while COVID-19 protocols were observed. Kandjou told Nampa on Monday the event gained popularity as the federation is yearly joined by new members.

En route to the final, the Otjinene all-stars netball team defeated Omongua all-stars with 30 points to 25, thus setting up a final with Epukiro who also thrashed Gam all-stars 25-2. The final game between the two Omaheke Region-based tournament favourites produced a mouth-watering game. However, it was the girls from Otjinene who showed strength by beating Epukiro 40-35, thus defending the cup they won during the last edition. As champions, Otjinene all-stars walked away with N.dollars 6 000 and a trophy plus 12 gold medals, and Epukiro as runner-up received N.dollars 4 000 and 12 silver medals, while Gam and Omongua all-stars each settled for N.dollars 1 500 as semi-final losers.

For the football category, in an all Omaheke Region affair, the boys from Gam this time showed some confidence and teamwork, reaching the semi-final for the first time since the tournament inception, even though they narrowly lost to Otjombinde by a single goal margin. The second saw Epukiro coming out on top after beating Omongua all-stars 2-1. The final game saw the boys from Otjombinde lifting the federation trophy for the first time after walking past tournament favourites Epukiro by a single goal margin, thus as champions walking away with N.dollars 14 000 and a trophy, while Epukiro received N.dollars 8 000 and the two semi-final losers, Gam and Omongua each got received N.dollars 4 000.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency