kharas region: The Erongo Region secured their second Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup football title on Monday, returning to winning ways at the same venue where they last triumphed 14 years ago.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Erongo, who progressed to the quarterfinals as runners-up in Group C, delivered an impressive run in the knockout stages of the 24th edition of the tournament, held from Friday to Monday. They eliminated tournament favourites Oshikoto in the quarterfinals before defeating Omaheke in the semi-finals to book a place in the final against defending champions Kunene.

Both sides produced a competitive contest, with Erongo showing greater intent in the opening stages, dominating possession but failing to convert their chances. Kunene grew into the match towards halftime, creating several opportunities, but neither side managed to score, with the teams going into the break level at 0-0.

Early in the second half, Kunene was awarded a penalty, which they converted to take the lead and place Erongo under sustained pressure. However, Erongo responded late in the match, finding an equaliser to force the game into extra time.

In the additional period, Erongo adopted a more disciplined approach and controlled the tempo effectively. Their composure proved decisive as they scored the winning goal in the second half of extra time to secure a memorable victory. The win marks Erongo's second title in 14 years.

Despite finishing as runners-up, Kunene claimed the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award, while Erongo also produced the Player of the Tournament. This year's tournament, hosted in the ||Kharas Region, attracted more than 600 young athletes competing in football and netball.

Since its inception in 2001, the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup has remained a key platform for youth sports development in Namibia, providing a pathway from grassroots participation to national recognition.