Category: Sports

By Biwah Bryan

The FIFA international break started on March 16 to March 26 and the Indomitable Lions didn’t engage in any friendlies during this period and won’t have a chance to do so before their world cup qualifiers, which is scheduled for June.

Meanwhile, the Indomitable Lions’ adversaries in the upcoming matches have been evaluating their strengths and weaknesses through friendly games with mixed results.

Cape Verde who are Cameroon’s next opponent in the world cup qualifiers beat both Equatorial Guinea and Guyana 1-0, Angola who Cameroon face after Cape Verde played two friendly games against Morocco and Comoros respectively lost 1-0 to Morocco and a goalless draw against Comoros.

Libya on their part played two matches against Burkina Faso and Togo, winning 2-1 and drawing 1-1 respectively.

In the preliminary round of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, Mauritius played 2 matches against Chad while Estwatini faced Somalia.

With Cameroon still faced with a Vacancy in the coaching department of the In
domitable lions, multiple reports have revealed several coaches who have been shortlisted and most recently Crtv Journalist Raphael Nkoa revealed Cameroon is in talks with two time champions League winner Jose Mourinho. With Cameroon’s next match slated for June it is expected that a new coach will be announced anytime soon.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

TSUMEB: The chairperson of the Namibia School Sports Union (NSSU) in the Oshikoto Region, Bonifatius Iiyambo, has expressed concern about the lack of sports facilities in the region. Iiyambo in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said many of the 228 schools in the region lack facilities like netball and football fields. At the few schools equipped with sports fields, the infrastructure does not meet the required standards, he added.

The chairperson said with the exception of the Tsumeb Sports Stadium, there is a scarcity of adequate sports facilities in the region. Only secondary schools like Nehale Senior Secondary School and Uukule Secondary School have sports facilities, but these are inadequate.

‘When our learners run on those tracks, it is not accurate because they are not proper fields with the right measurements,’ said Iiyambo.

He also said many schools only focus on running as there is no equipment for other sports codes such as shotput, high jump and javelin.

Despite this, he noted a strong inter
est in sports among learners.

‘Our learners love sports and you see it for yourself when there are trials or training,’ said Iiyambo.

‘Let us invest in sport because it unites people and prevents children from getting involved in activities such as drug and alcohol abuse,’ he said.

He made the remarks in Tsumeb during the preparation of the Under-20 Oshikoto regional team for the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup taking place in Gobabis this weekend.

Mbumba Haitengela, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, acknowledged the need for improved sports facilities in Namibia when approached for comment. Haitengela however noted plans to construct sports stadiums in all regional capitals.

‘We are aware of the lack of sports facilities in Namibia and we have decided to construct sports stadiums, including in the Oshikoto and Kunene regions, in the 2024/25 financial year,’ said Haitengela.

He said vocational training centres will be utilised for sports field construction in th
e respective regions by way of a memorandum of understanding with the National Training Authority.

Source:The Namibia Press Agency

Senior CRTV sports journalist and editorialist, Raphael Nkoa, has said world renowned coach Jose Mourinho, is in advanced talks with Cameroon authorities for the coaching job of the national team.

Nkoa made the disclosure on the national broadcaster’s flagship French sports programme ‘Fou Fou Foot’.

In an interview during the Portimao Moto GP event on Sunday in Portugal, Mourinho indicated that he is eager to return to coaching.

The former Chelsea manager was sacked by AS Roma in January after two and a half years with the club, winning the 2022 Europa League Conference title and qualifying for the Europa League final in the process.

While at Sunday’s Moto GP event, the Portuguese said he is ready to coach anywhere. ‘Never say no, especially in football. My life is football, I can train anywhere, I have no problems.’

The 61-year-old has yet to decide on his next destination.

His reported discussion with the Cameroon authorities comes at a time when the national team is in search of Rigobert Song’s repla
cement. The Cameroonian’s contract was not renewed after an unsatisfactory stint.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

After falling short of victory in previous years, the Kunene Region Under-20 netball team will be the favourites in the Namibian Newspaper Cup showpiece this weekend, the team’s manager has said.

The manager of the Kunene netball team, Ndimeja Zatjinda, told Nampa on Tuesday that the sky is the limit this time around as they are confident of their players’ ability.

‘This year, the sky is the limit. We have never had such a team before so the region must expect wonders from the girls,’ she stated.

Zatjinda explained that the region conducted fair trials through schools and zonal sports organisations to select the top players. Despite a notable performance in last year’s Newspaper Cup, Kunene faced disqualification for fielding a non-registered player, which prevented them from advancing to the quarterfinals. However, Zatjinda gave her assurance that all regulatory matters are now in order and they are aiming to win.

Kunene Region’s U-20 netball team, led by Concetta Mauha, includes Jeomba Katjiumune as sec
retary, Naftali Nangula as head coach, Hilia Nashilongo as assistant coach, and Zatjinda as team manager.

This year’s event, which is sponsored by Netbank, is set to take place in Gobabis in the Omaheke Region from 30 March to 01 April 2024.

Kunene has been drawn in Group A along with Ohangwena, //Kharas, Otjozondjupa, Kavango West, Oshana, and Omusati.

Hardap, Khomas, Erongo, Oshikoto, Kavango East, Zambezi, and Omaheke will compete against each other in Group B.

The football draw features Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshana, and Kunene in Group B; Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, and Omusati in Group C; and Kharas, Erongo, and Omaheke in Group D. Group A includes Zambezi, Oshikoto, Hardap, and Khomas.

In the netball category, Khomas Region defeated Erongo to win the championship, while Kavango West defeated host Otjozondjupa Region by a score of two goals to zero in the final.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) will host the Bank Windhoek-NVF Doc Tournament at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund this weekend in celebration of 40 years of volleyball.

NVF president Hilary Imbuwa in a statement on Tuesday said the tournament was named in tribute to Dr Juergen Munz, affectionately known as Doc, a trailblazer in Namibian volleyball during the early 1970s and 80s, and has garnered significance as a historical cornerstone.

It was started in 1983 by the former South West Africa Volleyball Association (SWAVA).

Imbuwa said the competition highlights the NVF’s unwavering dedication to promoting volleyball in Namibia.

He said the 40th anniversary edition is expected to be a historic occasion, with teams from all over Namibia competing in a sequence of matches that will conclude in a thrilling championship showdown.

Sixteen female and 19 male teams are expected to compete in the tournament.

‘We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of Namibian volleyball. The Doc
Tournament has been instrumental in shaping the volleyball landscape in Namibia, and we look forward to continuing its legacy for many years to come,’ he expressed.

International teams were welcomed in previous editions, but Imbuwa indicated that this year’s absence of foreign teams was due to logistical issues. He expressed optimism that, under the right circumstances, international participation will return in the next edition.

Following the cancellation of the 2020 Doc Tournament due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the 40th anniversary celebration was rescheduled for 2024 instead of 2023.

The tournament is amongst others sponsored by Bank Windhoek, Calvary Technologies, the MTC Dome, OTB Sports and Venus Enterprises.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

AFCON 2017 winner and best goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa, has called on football authorities to investigate his cousin and national teammate Andre Onana’s late arrival at the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Speaking to Footmercato in an interview conducted one month ago and published on March 23, the Nimes substitute goalkeeper, said he does not condone anything or act that goes against the rules.

‘Even if you are my cousin or my best friend, there are certain things that cannot be tolerated in the national team’ he said.

‘As it’s known, 27 players are called to the AFCON, and it is required that they all be fully ready to play.’

Ondoa said questions should be asked about who authorised the Manchester United goalkeeper to arrive just the day the competition was starting.

He condemned the pressure from external parties and a reported imposition of certain players on the coach against his will.

‘It should be noted that there has been external pressure on the president of the federation’ he added. ‘I’ve been part o
f the team for 11 years, and there are certain things that should not be accepted.’

The former Samuel Eto’o Academy, Fundesport recruit, pointed out that he has nothing against his cousin. He said he wants the ‘unacceptable’ practices within the national team to be addressed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

AFCON 2017 winner and best goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa, has called on football authorities to investigate his cousin and national teammate Andre Onana’s late arrival at the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Speaking to Footmercato in an interview conducted one month ago and published on March 23, the Nimes substitute goalkeeper, said he does not condone anything or act that goes against the rules.

‘Even if you are my cousin or my best friend, there are certain things that cannot be tolerated in the national team’ he said.

‘As it’s known, 27 players are called to the AFCON, and it is required that they all be fully ready to play.’

Ondoa said questions should be asked about who authorised the Manchester United goalkeeper to arrive just the day the competition was starting.

He condemned the pressure from external parties and a reported imposition of certain players on the coach against his will.

‘It should be noted that there has been external pressure on the president of the federation’ he added. ‘I’ve been part o
f the team for 11 years, and there are certain things that should not be accepted.’

The former Samuel Eto’o Academy, Fundesport recruit, pointed out that he has nothing against his cousin. He said he wants the ‘unacceptable’ practices within the national team to be addressed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

OSHAKATI: The Ruacana Town Council has invested N.dollars 350 000 in the hosting of the town’s 11th Easter Tournament.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from 29 March to 01 April 2024.

In an interview with Nampa on Monday, tournament organiser Simaneka Nendongo said a total of N.dollars 148 000 will be put aside for prizes, with the rest of the amount used for other expenses.

Nendongo indicated that this is the biggest event on their calendar and they expect to cater for thousands of visitors expected to attend this year’s tournament.

‘During the four days of the tournament, local traders will make extra income and hopefully grow the town’s economy,’ he stated.

Teams will participate in four sports codes during the event.

In the male football category, the winner will walk away with N.dollars 25 000, a floating trophy and gold medals.

The second runner-up will scoop N.dollars 17 000 and silver medals, while the semi-finalist will get N.dollars 6 000 and N.dollars 4 000 respectively.

In the fem
ale and Legend Soccer Category, the winners will get N.dollars 9 000, a floating trophy and gold medals. The second-place winner will get N.dollars 7 000 and silver medals, while the third-place will get N.dollars 5 000 and bronze medals.

Meanwhile, in the netball category, the winner will scoop N.dollars 12 000, a floating trophy and gold medals. The second runner-up will get N.dollars 8 000 and silver medals, while the third-place winner will get N.dollars 6 000 and bronze medals.

With regards to the volleyball and basketball sport codes, Nendongo indicated that the winners will receive N.dollars 7 000, a floating trophy and gold medals. The second-placed team will get N.dollars 5 000 and silver medals, while the third-place winner will walk away with N.dollars 3 000 and bronze medals.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency