Last 16 move closer to playing in Brazil

The final round of qualifiers for the Neymar Jr's Five soccer tournament took place over the weekend at the Dawid Bezuidenhout sports fields in Windhoek.

With 2018 Fifa World Cup fever in full effect, the games kicked off in high spirits. The aim was to fill the last six slots for the final 16 teams that will compete at the national finals on Saturday, 30 June at the UN Plaza in Windhoek.

The Khomas Region five-a-side teams pitched up in their numbers to battle it out for the last remaining six places. They were placed in groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout round.

The brutal knockout phase heated up the competition, as none of the teams wanted to surrender. As a result, most of the games ended in draws and had to be settled with one-on-ones, where both teams selected a single player to compete against another from the opposing team. Thereafter, the competition moved into the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds.

Tjimbiyera were crowned the Windhoek champions, followed by Tuli Ngaa, Khomasdal Boys, Bethlehem United, Sonadores and Supreme Squad. Founder and captain of Tjimbiyera, Collin Tjimbiyera said: “We are glad to have outplayed the other teams. As a captain, I'm sure we are going to Brazil. Thank you to all the sponsors; this helps keep the youth away from the streets.”

Tuli Ngaa captain Reinhold Haludilu said it was not easy to make it to the last 16. “It took determination and character to pull through,” he said.

Bank Windhoek public relations and reputational risk manager, André le Roux, said the competition has been received well, especially by the participants. “It has been a great experience to have witnessed the response and talent we have in our country. Congratulations to the last 16 teams that have edged closer to the dream of playing in Brazil,” he said.

The Neymar Jr's Five is a Red Bull initiative co-sponsored by Bank Windhoek. Snickers, Fresh FM and NBC are also sponsors of the tournament. One of the last 16 participating Namibian teams will have a chance to represent the country at the world finals on Saturday, 21 July in Brazil.

There, they will have a chance to play against world-renowned soccer player, Neymar Junior, who is currently representing Brazil at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The last 16 teams are as follows:

Central region

Tjimbiyera: Champions

Tuli Ngaa

Khomasdal Boys

Bethlehem United

Sonadores Supreme Squad

Coastal region

SFC Welwitschia: Champions

SFC Atlantic

SFC Namib

Tika-Tika

NY Galaxy

Northern region

Lions: Champions

Jikas

Volkano

Shoprite

Nyaanga



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