KEETMANSHOOP — Chipolopolo Football Club clinched the championship at the 12th Tses Spring Sports Festival, held this weekend. The team secured victory in the football category by defeating 4th Street of Mariental with a score of 2-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final. The event featured stiff competition among numerous teams across various towns and concluded with impressive performances in both football and netball.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the sports festival, which began on Saturday and wrapped up on Sunday in Tses, attracted 26 football teams and six netball teams. Competitors hailed from Mariental, Maltahöhe, Aranos, Gochas, Bethanie, Keetmanshoop, Aroab, and Komsberg. As champions, Chipolopolo received N$25,000 and a trophy. Meanwhile, 4th Street of Mariental earned N$14,000 as the runner-up. The semi-finalist teams, Aroab Football Academy and Gom Gom from Maltahöhe, were awarded N$5,500 each.
In the netball category, 12 Brigade A from Keetmanshoop emerged victorious, securing N$5,000 and a trophy. Their counterparts, 12 Brigade B, took home N$3,500 as the second-best team. The netball team from Komsberg, Eleven Champion, won N$1,500 for their third-place finish.
Thomas Tsuseb, the founder of the event, remarked on the slightly lower turnout of football teams compared to the previous year but highlighted the festival’s success in fostering participation and maintaining discipline among participants and supporters. He expressed gratitude towards the event sponsors, including Sonop Farms, Old Mutual, NamDeb, and Member of Parliament Ricky Vries, emphasizing the importance of the festival in nurturing young talent and promoting sports culture.