All roads lead to Kunene Region for the 23rd edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup

27 January 2025 Minister of Sport, Youth, and National Service, Honourable Agnes Tjongarero, officially launched the 23rd edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup earlier today by at the Nedbank Windhoek campus.

For the second time ever, the tournament will take place in Outjo, in the Kunene region, from 18 to 21 April 2025.

All 14 regions are set to participate in the football and netball competitions, with Nedbank Namibia retaining its headline sponsor title for the youth sports competition.  

The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup is one of the country’s longest-running football and netball tournament and provides a platform for sport scouts to select players to represent Namibia in national under-20 football and netball competitions.

Speaking at the tournament launch, Honourable Tjongarero paid tribute to the sponsors and organisers, saying the tournament championed the empowerment of Namibian youth.

“The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup has been a vital platform for developing talent, as evident by recent successes like the CAF Under-15 Schools Tournament and the Africa Netball Championship. It serves not only to nurture skills, but also to promote organizational development and infrastructure growth in the various towns that host it. I commend the Namibian government for its steadfast support in the development of sport. The provision of transportation and accommodation for all 14 regional teams is vital in ensuring that every young athlete has the chance to compete and thrive. This commitment is crucial for the continued success of this tournament,” she said.

Kunene Regional Governor Marius Sheya boldly declared that the Outjo town is ready to host the 23rd edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper.

“We want to show other regions how sports activities are supposed to be hosted. We started preparing the fields last year and the preparations are going well. We are making sure that by the time the tournament is done, all the other regions will use us (Kunene) as a yardstick when it comes to hosting the Newspaper Cup. We are committed to delivering the best edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup,” he said.

Sheya said while Outjo was the host for this year’s tournament, as a region they included all the seven Kunene Regional Constituencies in the Local Organising Committee to build capacity to host future tournaments. This will also enable the constituencies to develop sports facilities.

Also speaking at the same occasion, Nedbank Namibia Managing Director Martha Murorua mentioned the development of infrastructure the tournament brings to host regions.

“As money experts who do good, we are honoured to be the title sponsor of this tournament, reaffirming our commitment to supporting youth sports development in Namibia. We have a deep-set obligation to do so, but it is an obligation that we respect, embrace and cherish with every fibre of our being,” Murorua said.

She added: “The economic impact of this event is significant, with thousands of Namibian dollars flowing into local business economy as teams, supporters, and visitors descend on the Kunene region over the Easter weekend. Moreover, the upgrades to school hostels and sports facilities will benefit the local youth in the region long after the tournament is over.

Namibia Newspaper Managing Director Tangeni Amupadhi paid tribute to the organising committee for a sterling job in preparing for the tournament well in advance. He noted that the Nedbank Namibia Newspaper gives opportunities for the youth to forge long-lasting relationships and learn from each other.

“The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup helps in the development of sporting infrastructure while playing a huge role in the economic development of the various hosting regions. The tournament has also seen the development of young talented Namibians who are now getting opportunities to play football and netball internationally. The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup is not only a sporting event, but a nation building project,” he said.

Amupadhi added that the tournament allows the public and private sectors to invest in the Namibia youth who could be lost to various bad vices such as crime, alcohol and drug abuse.

He concluded by calling on other corporate entities to establish more similar projects aimed at improving the lives of the Namibia youths.

Speaking on netball’s involvement into the tournament, Netball Namibia President, Rebecca Goagoses, said: “This event has become more than just a tournament. It is now a cornerstone of Namibia’s sporting legacy and a launching pad for the young stars who will carry our flag on the national and international stage. Netball was included in the Newspaper cup in 2018 when the tournament took place at Katima Mulilo in Zambezi region. Since becoming part of this prestigious tournament the Newspaper Cup this tournament has become a starting point for many players who have gone on to represent our country at national and international levels. For young netball players, in particular, this is an opportunity to display their skills and earn a place on the national stage.”

Speaking at the launch, NFA Vice President Jacobus Markus said the football mother body will make sure the regions field competitive teams.

“The Executive Council, management and staff are, therefore, steadfast to accelerate youth football development from academies, grassroots, to regional second divisions to ensure that the demand and supply of quality football players to the Nationwide First Division and Namibia Premier Football League maintain its competitiveness. We trust that this competition will draw a lot of investment to your region and respective towns and will also inject impetus into the economy of Kunene and Outjo Town,” he said.

The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup has seen under-20 players go on to represent Namibia in both football and netball national teams.

These include Cornelia Mupenda, Monica Gomases, Zante Farmer, Mendjipee Kaveako, Tilly Kamati, Uendjimuna Kangumine, Grace Matyayi, Desdamona Tjirera, Sunshine Murangi, and Mianka Roberts in netball over the years, while in football, players such as Petrus Shitembi, Willy Stephanus, Brian Brendell, Larry Horaeb, Absalom Iimbondi, Benson Shilongo, Edward Maova, Marcel Papama, Mapenzi Muwanei, Dudes Mwedihanga, and Ndisiro Kamaijanda have featured in the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup before donning the Brave Warriors jersey.

The launch was concluded with the draw, which determined which teams will face off in the group stages.

For football, the teams were grouped as follows:

Group A – Hardap,
Oshikoto, Zambezi, Karas

Group B – Oshana,
Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena

Group C – Erongo,
Omusati, Kavango East

Group D – Omaheke,
Otjozondjupa, Kavango West

In netball, we grouped the teams as follows:

Group A - Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Karas, Khomas

Group B – Erongo, Kavango East, Kunene, Omusati, Omaheke, Oshana, Hardap