Ombazu tournament at Opuwo this weekend
The third edition of the annual Ombazu tournament will take place at the Newman Katuta Stadium at Opuwo this weekend.
With the absence of a professional league football for almost a year, all the attention is diverted to rural sports during the festive season, tournament organiser Venaune Hepute tod Nampa on Wednesday.
The tournament has been staged at Ohandungu, almost 40 km east of Opuwo, since its inception.
Hepute said they decided to change the venue after requests from stakeholders who felt Ohandungu was too far from the town and services such as hospitals for injured players.
“More than 20 teams are expected to take part on Saturday and Sunday and Ohandungu village also cannot accommodate all teams plus spectators,” he said.
The prize money has been increased to N$50 000 from last year's N$25 000. Hepute said the funds were pledged by member of parliament Mike Kavekotora as his way of ploughing back into his community through grassroots sports development.
Of the N$50 000, N$37 000 will be allocated to football prizes, N$9 500 to netball and the remaining N$3 500 to individual awards.
Winners in the netball category will walk away with N$5 000 and a trophy while the losers will have to settle for N$3 000. The third-best team will be awarded N$1 500.
The football champions will this year walk away with N$20 000 and a floating trophy. The losers in the final will receive N$10 000, while the two semi-final losing teams will each be awarded N$3 500.
Hepute said there was no restriction on Namibia Premier League players as no one knew when the league would start.
“This will also be a great opportunity for league-based players to showcase their talent and teach local players how to improve their game. We expect a good turnout of local players as this is one of the opportunities for some to raise their game and for others to gain tournament experience,” he said.
The last Ombazu tournament attracted 12 teams and was won by Okambari Kautjo in both netball and football.
NAMPA
With the absence of a professional league football for almost a year, all the attention is diverted to rural sports during the festive season, tournament organiser Venaune Hepute tod Nampa on Wednesday.
The tournament has been staged at Ohandungu, almost 40 km east of Opuwo, since its inception.
Hepute said they decided to change the venue after requests from stakeholders who felt Ohandungu was too far from the town and services such as hospitals for injured players.
“More than 20 teams are expected to take part on Saturday and Sunday and Ohandungu village also cannot accommodate all teams plus spectators,” he said.
The prize money has been increased to N$50 000 from last year's N$25 000. Hepute said the funds were pledged by member of parliament Mike Kavekotora as his way of ploughing back into his community through grassroots sports development.
Of the N$50 000, N$37 000 will be allocated to football prizes, N$9 500 to netball and the remaining N$3 500 to individual awards.
Winners in the netball category will walk away with N$5 000 and a trophy while the losers will have to settle for N$3 000. The third-best team will be awarded N$1 500.
The football champions will this year walk away with N$20 000 and a floating trophy. The losers in the final will receive N$10 000, while the two semi-final losing teams will each be awarded N$3 500.
Hepute said there was no restriction on Namibia Premier League players as no one knew when the league would start.
“This will also be a great opportunity for league-based players to showcase their talent and teach local players how to improve their game. We expect a good turnout of local players as this is one of the opportunities for some to raise their game and for others to gain tournament experience,” he said.
The last Ombazu tournament attracted 12 teams and was won by Okambari Kautjo in both netball and football.
NAMPA
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