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Stars touring Africa

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Stars touring Africa Stars touring Africa The Champions League history We take a look at the history of Africa’s biggest club competition. The stage is set for African Stars to begin their hunt for CAF Champion’s League glory as they await a battle on the Comoros Island.

African Stars will play Volcano Club De Moroni FC on 27 November in their Confederations of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary first leg match.

The ‘Reds’ will be hoping to improve on their form given that they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Eleven Arrows last week.

The club will, however, be comforted by the fact that they managed to beat Life Fighters 1-0 in the opening match of the 2018/19 premier league campaign.

“We are ready to give it our all this season as we want to make sure we go far in the competition.

“The competition is very important for our players as it will be giving them exposure and experience.

“The boys are fired up and ready to take on Africa,” coach Robert Nauseb said.

The return leg match between the two teams will take place in Windhoek on 4 or 5 December.

The aggregate winner of the preliminary round match will progress to the first round of the Champions League where they will take on the winner between South Africa's Orlando Pirates or Light Stars from the Seychelles, with the first leg of that encounter scheduled for the weekend of 14 December.

The winner of the first round encounter will then progress to the lucrative group stages of the competition, where 16 teams will compete in four groups of four each.

The top two teams will progress to the quarterfinal knockout stages, while the bottom two teams, although being eliminated, will receive US$550 000 each.

The losing quarterfinalists will receive US$650 000 each and the losing semi-finalists, US$800 000 each.

The champions will receive US$2.5 million and the runners-up US$1.5 million.

About the competition

The CAF Champions League is an annual continental club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition in the continent and the equivalent to the UEFA Champions League.

Due to sponsorship reasons, the official name is Total CAF Champions League, with Total Champions League also in use.

The winner of the tournament earns a berth for the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament contested between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations, and also faces the winner of the CAF Confederation Cup in the following season's CAF Super Cup.

Egypt's Al Ahly is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament eight times.

Egyptian clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories, winning the title 14 times.

The reigning champions are ES Tunis of Tunisia, who secured their third win in the competition after defeating Al Ahly SC in the 2018 final.

Starting life as the 'African Cup of Champions Clubs' in 1964, the first team to lift the trophy was Cameroonian side Oryx Douala, who beat Stade Malien of Mali 2-1 in a one-off final.

Developments since 1997

Apart from the introduction of the away goals rule (in which the team wins which has scored more goals playing ‘away’ if there is a tie in the aggregate score line over the two legs), very little changed in this competition until 1997.

In the new format, the league champions of the respective CAF member countries went through a series of preliminary rounds until a last 16 stage.

The eight winners of this round were then drawn into two mini-leagues of teams each, with each team playing each other on a home and away basis.

At the end of the league stage, the top two teams in each group meet in the semi-finals, with the winners going through to contest the finals. In 2017, the group phase was expanded from eight to 16 teams and the mini-leagues from two to four and the addition of one extra knock-out round.

Structure and qualification

In 1997 the CAF Champions League replaced the previous pan-African competition, the African Cup of Champions Clubs; this had run from 1964 to 1996.

From the 2004, competition the runner-up of the league of the 12 highest-ranked countries also entered the tournament creating a 64-team field.

This was in response to the merging of the CAF Cup, the secondary pan-African club competition where the league runners-up would previous play, with the CAF Cup Winners' Cup to create the CAF Confederation Cup.

The 12 countries would be ranked on the performance of their clubs in the previous five years.

The Champions League operates as a knockout competition, with a final group stage, with each tie (including the final) played over two legs, both home and away.

There are two knockout stages: the preliminary stage and the first round (32 teams).

The 16 teams knocked out of the first round are entered into the Confederation Cup to play against the final 16 teams in that competition.

After the first round, the last 16 teams are split into four groups of four. The winner and runner-up in these groups are sent to play in a quarter-final and the possibility to play semi-finals, in chase of victory, for the chance of contesting the final.

Sponsorship

In October 2004, MTN contracted a four-year deal to sponsor African football’s major competitions.

This agreement, which is worth US$12.5 million, was the biggest sponsorship deal in African sporting history at the time.

In July 2009, Orange signed an eight-year deal to sponsor African football’s major competitions.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed but CAF previous year put a value of €100 million for a comprehensive and long-term package of its competitions when it opened tenders for a new sponsor.

The deal included the African Nations Cup, the CAF Champions League, the CAF Confederation Cup, the CAF Super Cup, the African Nations Championship and the African Youth Championship.

In July 2016, Total replaced Orange and secured an eight-year sponsorship package from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for a value of €950 million to support ten of its principal competitions, including the CAF Champions League, renamed Total CAF Champions League. *Additional information from Wikipedia

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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Kante signs new five-year deal with Chelsea

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Kante signs new five-year deal with ChelseaKante signs new five-year deal with Chelsea French international midfielder N'Golo Kante has committed his long-term future to Chelsea by signing a new five-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.

Kante, who joined Chelsea in 2016, helped the club win the title in his first season at Stamford Bridge and was rewarded for his consistent play by being named the player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association.

“I'm happy to extend my time with Chelsea, it has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come,” the 27-year-old two-time Premier League winner said in a statement.

“Since I came, I completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about. I like the city, I like the club and I am happy to be here for more time.”

Kante tasted his first Premier League title triumph with Leicester City in the 2015-16 season and also started all seven matches for France as they lifted the World Cup in Russia earlier this year.

NAMPA/REUTERS
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Nine Kazakh biathletes suspended

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Nine Kazakh biathletes suspended Nine Kazakh biathletes suspended Nine Kazakh biathletes, including several Olympians, have been suspended on suspicion of doping, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) announced on Thursday.

"The review and provisional suspensions are based on criminal investigations in Austria and Italy," said the IBU in a statement.

"The provisionally suspended athletes are now given the chance to provide the IBU with an adequate explanation of the alleged anti-doping rule violation.

"The IBU will then decide on what further proceedings are taken."

The nine athletes concerned are two-time Olympians Galina Vishnevskaya, Alina Raikova, Darya Klimina-Ussanova and Yan Savitsky as well as Olga Poltoranina, Maxim Braun, Anna Kistanova, Anton Pantov and Vassiliy Potkorytov.

In January, the Italian police seized large quantities of the banned anti-inflammatory drug prednisolone from the hotel room of Kazakh team doctor Chossilbek Tagayev who was subsequently barred from all competition.

At the 2017 World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austrian police conducted a search of the Kazakhstan team hotel, seizing medicines and mobile phones.

All Kazakh biathletes were then tested for negative urine and blood tests. They all came back negative.

The investigation was originally initiated by a report from a private individual who, in January 2017, had witnessed the unloading of a large box by the occupants of several minibuses at a petrol station in East Tyrol.

When they searched the box, the police found a large amount of second-hand disposable medical equipment such as syringes, infusions and injection ampoules.

They also found handwritten notes and various accreditations for IBU events.

NAMPA/AFP
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Tiger Brands to spin off stake in Oceana

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Tiger Brands to spin off stake in OceanaTiger Brands to spin off stake in Oceana42% of it South Africa’s Tiger Brands, which is recovering from a food contamination crisis, will spin off its 42% stake in fishing company Oceana Group, worth US$330 million. We believe this will deliver high double digit growth over the next few years for us at a margin that is accretive to our South African business- Lawrence Mac Dougall, CEO, Tiger Brands This is to allow the company to focus on growing its food and drinks business.

The move comes as part of a strategic review at Tiger Brands, South Africa’s biggest consumer foods maker, which produces bread, breakfast cereals and energy drinks, and which is aiming to return its core operations to profitable growth.

Tiger Brands reported a 26% decline in full-year headline earnings per share on Thursday.

“It’s about being more focused on our core portfolio and giving as much attention as possible to growing our core brands,” chief executive Lawrence Mac Dougall told reporters.

The approximate date of Oceana’s unbundling is April 2019.

Oceana Group, which has sales of 7.7 billion rand (US$553.46 million) according to Mac Dougall, describes itself as the largest fishing company in Africa.

At 1118 GMT, shares in Tiger Brands were up 4.42% at 282.88 rand, Oceana was down 1.72%.

Tiger Brands’ strategic review also suggests expanding into Africa on a “very cautionary” basis. This involves a “route-to-market” model as opposed to acquisitive growth, Mac Dougall said.

The food producer will start in Kenya and move into Nigeria and Central Africa. Expansion into North Africa “will take us a little bit longer and that might have to be acquisitive growth,” Mac Dougall said.

“We believe this will deliver high double digit growth over the next few years for us at a margin that is accretive to our South African business.”

Tiger Brands manufactures food through stakes in local companies in Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabwe and also distributes its products across much of southern and central Africa, as well as in the United States, Australia and parts of Europe.

Tiger Brands said HEPS from total operations for the full-year ended September fell to 1 587 cents from 2,161 cents.

Revenue declined by 9% to 28.5 billion rand due to the suspension of operations at its cold meat facilities in response to a deadly listeria outbreak and a depressed consumer environment.

Recall and related costs to date amounted to 380 million rand net of initial insurance claims, Tiger Brands said.

-Nampa/Reuters
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'Peanuts' from Nored

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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'Peanuts' from Nored'Peanuts' from NoredLocal authority CEOs nail power utility With no financial statements since 2014, there are calls for a probe into the finances of Nored. Local authority CEOs have accused Nored of a lack of transparency, saying it makes a fortune from electricity unit sales, while councils only receive peanuts.

The CEOs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that Nored's affairs be investigated, because it has not produced annual reports with financial statements since 2013/14, despite holding annual general meetings (AGMs).

They argue Nored is making millions from the communities in which they operate, at the expense of local authorities who service the land and build the necessary infrastructure.

They feel that the local authorities' 33% share in Nored, and what they benefit financially, “does not make sense”. “Annual reports are key because we are stakeholders in Nored and we have to go through them and also see whether the money from the public is used in their interest,” a local authority CEO said. “Nored is growing every year, while you find local authorities sitting with high debts, which they cannot pay off. Some local authorities are renting offices while at the same time Nored is buying expensive cars and constructing state-of-the-art buildings. The question is: Where do they get the money from?”

Nored was established in 2001 as the country's first regional electricity distributor (RED).

It distributes electricity to thousands of consumers in the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Zambezi and two Kavango regions.

This is after cabinet in 2000 approved the initiative to create REDs to distribute and supply electricity, through economies of scale, by pooling together human and operational capital resources.

The ultimate goal is to stabilise electricity prices and ensure reasonable, affordable and cost-effective tariffs for electricity consumers.

Namibia was divided into five energy regions, to be serviced by five REDs. However, only three of them are operational, namely Nored, Cenored and Erongo RED.

Namibian Sun is reliably informed that during Nored AGMs, stakeholders are only taken through a presentation.

Attempts to get copies of Nored's recent financial statements proved futile, as the links on the company's website do not open. Meanwhile, Erongo RED and Cenored's annual reports, up to 2017, are accessible on their websites.

Since last Thursday, Namibian Sun has been waiting for a response from Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas, but no feedback was forthcoming at the time of going to print.

Namibian Sun had asked why Nored has not presented annual financial statements and reports for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial years, and why no profit or losses were declared for those years.

Nored was also asked how many customers are currently on its grid and whether it is aware of stakeholder concerns. During an earlier interview with Nored CEO Fillemon Nakashole at Rundu, he indicated the company is not profit-driven, but simply provides electricity. Nored recorded N$49 million profit after tax in 2013/14 financial year, under former CEO Gotlieb Amanyanga. When asked at the time about local authorities being unhappy with Nored and its affairs, as they are demanding more dividends, Nakashole said: “For you to have the maximum benefit in terms of surcharges, councils should not service the land and leave it unoccupied. As you service the land, try to get people to buy the land and get investors in and that will increase your cash flow, the money you receive monthly and it also increases your balance sheet.”

Nakashole also used the opportunity to praise the Omusati regional council, saying with the dividends they receive from Nored, they service settlements, which increases their assets, meaning more dividends.

According to the 2013/14 Nored annual report a total of N$15.4 million in surcharges was paid to local authorities. However, this was a drop from the 2012/13 financial year, when N$16 million was paid.
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Esau appoints new FOA board

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Esau appoints new FOA boardEsau appoints new FOA board Fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau has warned illegal fishing operators in Namibian waters to cease their activities or the ministry would not hesitate to act against them.

He was speaking at an event at the close of last week where he welcomed the new Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA) board on board.

Esau said the FOA will be provided with sufficient resources to assist the ministry and law enforcement to bring an end to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

He said in the past year a specific concern has been regular reports of IUU fishing activities especially around Namibia's northern maritime borders.

“The government has taken measures to increase security in this area, and some concrete actions are already underway. I therefore warn those who may be participating or facilitating these illegal activities that your days are numbered.”

Although he would not divulge details of who was behind the IUU fishing and what actions have been taken to address this issue, he said the FAO will be held accountable to ensure that “we fiercely protect our fisheries”.

He said illegal and unregulated fishing activities are sabotaging jobs and the economy.

The FOA board is tasked to observe the harvesting, handling and processing of marine resources and related operations and to record data concerning such operations.

The minister promptly instructed the board to have their first report ready by the end of January, on data of fish landings at all Namibian ports.

Esau reminded the team that their mandate is not only to observe and report, but to come up with concrete actions on how to address identified challenges and problems.

He said the FAO must work closely with the ministry to find solutions that will address violations observed by the FAO, and in a timely manner.

Another performance task for the FOA board is to collect and record biological and other data related to activities governed by the fisheries act, and to collect samples of marine resources harvested.

The chairperson of the new FOA board, which serves three years, is Martha Murorua, joined by deputy chairperson Inocencio Ordem Verde, as well as Yoolokeni Haihambo, Bonifatius Karry Amutse, Elizabeth Manaizia Joan Swartz and Claudius Shivute Ikera.











JANA-MARI SMITH
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Expert witness in Dippenaar case says he was threatened

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Expert witness in Dippenaar case says he was threatenedExpert witness in Dippenaar case says he was threatened A stunning twist in the sensational Dippenaar murder trial has occurred. One of the two expert witnesses for the State, who has already given testimony during the trial, has opened a case of assault by threat against a key witness for the defence. In the meantime, the murder trial was postponed until July 2019.

The case of assault by threat was opened on Thursday at the Swakopmund police station and entails allegations of a death threat. “We are investigating this matter and will forward the docket to court once we have finalised it,” said Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu, Erongo's regional crime investigations coordinator, upon enquiry.

According to Iikuyu, the key witness for the defence allegedly threatened the State witness during an earlier court proceeding in front of the Swakopmund courthouse. The witness allegedly threatened to “break his neck”, Iikuyu said.

Meanwhile, the murder trial against Jandré Dippenaar will only continue in July 2019. This new date was decided on by all the parties after the nearly three-day cross examination of mechanical expert Martin Graham concluded on Thursday afternoon in the Swakopmund Regional Court. “There is not enough time to hear another witness. We therefore have to postpone the matter to another date,” said State advocate Ethel Ndlovu.

The trial was set down for various periods next year - from 8 until 12 July, then again from 12 until 16 August and lastly from 16 until 20 September.

The family of the accident victims as well as Eberhard Seybold, counsel Antonia Joschko who survived the horror accident of 29 December 2014, were clearly frustrated after this announcement was made. “It does not seem like we've made any progress in this case this week. Close to four years have passed already,” said Petrus Pretorius after the matter concluded on Thursday.

Pretorius is the father of Dinah Pretorius, who died during the in the horror accident between Henties Bay and Swakopmund. Dippenaar is accused to have driven her brand-new Toyota FJ Cruiser and having caused a head-on collision with a Ford Ranger. He is charged with the murder of Dinah Pretorius, JC Horn and Charlene Schombee as well as three German tourists.

Since the trial continued last week, the parents of Pretorius as well as JC Horn's mother have been present at court. JC Horn's mother left the courtroom for the first time on Wednesday during the cross-examination. “I'm not going to listen to this anymore. Asking the same questions over and over makes me tired,” she said.

“Man, this is frustrating,” Joschko's lawyer Seybold added. “We've spent so much time on a cross-examination, asking lots of questions which are not crucial. This gives the impression that the defence is wasting time,” he said.

Since the start of the trial, Dippenaar himself has so far only uttered a few words in court. “Innocent,” he said nine times and thereby claimed his innocence on all charges. At the end of the gruelling cross examination his lawyer, Advocate Louis Botes, lamented these words and said that Antonia Joschko's father can be held liable for the accident.

“We'll prove in court that the Ford Ranger went into the lane of the FJ Cruiser when the collision took place,” Botes said. The mechanical expert Martin Graham simply answered: “I am no reconstruction expert. I have no comment.” During the lengthy cross-examination Graham never deviated from his version.
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Canucks beat Kings to end eight game skid

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Canucks beat Kings to end eight game skidCanucks beat Kings to end eight game skid Elias Pettersson scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period on Saturday as the visiting Vancouver Canucks ended their eight-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Pettersson intercepted a pass near the Kings' blue line and ripped a blistering shot past Kings goalie Cal Petersen from just inside the left circle for his 13th goal of the season. The centre also had a second-period assist. Adam Gaudette, Sam Gagner and Tyler Motte also scored for the Canucks, who won for the first time since 8 November in Boston. Vancouver had been outscored 34-16 during its losing streak. Motte sealed the victory with a short-handed goal into an empty Kings net with 1:19 remaining. Drew Doughty and Matt Luff scored for the Kings, who lost their fifth consecutive game at home and are 2-6 over their last eight games overall, scoring two goals or less in six of those contests. After a scoreless first period, the Canucks took a 1-0 lead at 5:12 of the second period when Gaudette scored his first career goal. He charged in and took a pass from right wing Jake Virtanen and slipped a shot past Petersen. Just over two minutes later, Doughty tied the score 1-1 on a power-play goal.

It was a rare man-advantage goal for the Kings, who entered with an NHL-worst 12.7-percent power-play rate. Vancouver regained the lead at 2-1 when Gagner scored on the power play. Pettersson sent a pass to Bo Horvat on the side of the Kings goal and Horvat sent a pass out front to Gagner, who delivered his first goal of the season. Just over four minutes later, the Kings tied it again, when Luff, a rookie, scored on a breakaway for his third career goal, all coming in his last three games. After a Vancouver turnover in the Kings' zone, Carl Hagelin sent a pass to Luff near centre ice, and the right wing took it the rest of the way for the score. The Kings and Canucks entered as the bottom two teams in goal differential in the NHL. The Kings were last in the league at minus-24, while the Canucks entered at minus-19.

NAMPA/REUTERS
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Shotokan awards karateka

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Shotokan awards karatekaShotokan awards karatekaKarate Academy goes high The Swakopmund Shotokan Karate Academy recently held its year-end prize-giving ceremony to reward the athletes who excelled throughout the year. leandrea louw



The overall best performance by a karateka was awarded with the Herald and Hettie Blum floating trophy.

The criteria for the Herald and Hettie Blum floating trophy are class attendance, dedication, best groomed karateka, results in competitions, being independent, results at gradings and judging. This award was won by Mayvonne Swart. The Van der Bijl trophy is awarded to the karateka with the overall best performance for men and women aged 21 or older. This trophy was awarded to Suzelle Pronk. Suzelle Pronk also won the best performance senior woman karateka for 2018 enabling her to walk away with the Pieter & Karen Hamman trophy. In the senior men's category, the Pieter & Karen Hamman trophy was won by Reynard van Zyl. The Kotze floating trophies were awarded to karateka who were merited on their class attendance, loyalty, diligence, and exceptional patience. Cobus Esterhuysen and Liam Labuschagne won the boys' best progress awards while Vonné Janse van Rensburg won the girls' best progress award. The other Kotze floating trophies were the best improved karateka for 2018 and the trophy dedication, which were won by Gabriella Diergaardt and Marchelle de Jager respectively. Other karateka to be awarded according to their age groups were:



Age group 7 - 11

Junior boys' kata karateka (7 to 11 years old): Jody Thomas

Junior boys' kumite karateka (7 to 11 years old): Ernst Doeseb

Best performance junior boys' karateka (7 to 11 years old): Charldon Fourie

Junior girls' kata karateka (7 to 11 years old): Nellao Naruses

Junior girls' kumite karateka (7 to 11 years old): Simoné Labuschagne

Best performance junior girls' karateka (7 to 11 years old): Gabriella Strappazzon

Overall best performance - boys and girls (7 to 11 years old): Wehan Groenewald



Age group 12 – 15

Junior boys' kata karateka for 2018 (12 to 15 years old): Lee Thomas

Junior boys' kumite karateka for 2018 (12 to 15 years old): Jan-Magiel Leff

Best performance junior boys' karateka for 2018 (12 to 15 years old): Christopher Armstrong

Junior girls' kata karateka for 2018 (12 to 15 years old): Miriam Idiou

Junior girls' kumite karateka for 2018 (12 to 15 years old): Merziaan Mouton

Best performance junior girls' karateka for 2018 (12 to 15 years old): Ronja Porteus

Overall best performance - boys and girls (12 to 15 years old): Julian Stuurman



Age group 16 - 20

Senior boys' kata karateka for 2018 (16 to 20 years old): Nicolaas Swart

Senior boys' kumite karateka for 2018 (16 to 20 years old): Keanu Stuurman

Best performance senior boys' karateka for 2018 (16 to 20 years old): Herman van Zyl

Senior girls' kata karateka for 2018 (16 to 20 years old): Caitlin Louw

Best performance senior girls' karateka for 2018 (16 to 20 years old): René Giliomee

Overall best performance - senior boys and girls (16 to 20 years old): Mayvonne Swart.
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The struggle is indeed, over

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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The struggle is indeed, overThe struggle is indeed, over Liberation credentials have no real currency or value, 30 years after independence. This is something our elders, and those in other African countries, need to learn. The generation that fought, whether on a diplomatic or military front, for the freedom of their country, are elderly and should be retired, enjoying slow and easy days.

The so-called born frees do not attach the value to liberation credentials that the elders do. The younger generation seeks job security, a strong economy, the best education for their children, good healthcare and, of course, options and freedom to pursue their lives as they wish.

This, unfortunately has not happened for them. Many, who remember the last years of the struggle, do not see any real benefit of the promised freedoms. Life is a hustle and everything is becoming more expensive while money has less value and is always short. Those who are young enough to only be told of the struggle, really do not care. They need good teachers so that they can get to university – believed to be the magical cure to joblessness. They see the way their parents struggle to make ends meet and want to do, and have better.

And rightly so… but with the way things are going, this too, is not to be.

The old vanguard of power clings to their seats of control. We have become so used to elderly presidents and ministers that we do not raise an eyebrow anymore.

All over, youth movements are rising and scarily so, many of these come from the ranks of youth leagues of ruling liberation movements. The signs are all there. We can no longer cling to the fact that we ‘freed the country so forgive us for our mistakes’.

That patience offered by the youth, and the grace offered by your peers, has run out. The citizenry seeks results. Action. And a quality life.
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MTC Sunshine brings boxing to youth

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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MTC Sunshine brings boxing to youthMTC Sunshine brings boxing to youthAmateur boxing this week Young boxers will be trading leather in a competition to determine which region has the most talent. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



The MTC Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Academy will stage its annual MTC Sunshine Regional Cup in Windhoek this week.

The event is scheduled to take place from 28 November to 1 December 2018.

The flagship event is part of the MTC Sunshine development programme aimed at grooming amateur boxers and preparing them in their journey to becoming professional.

The annual event was successfully hosted at Otjiwarongo last year and is now moving back to Windhoek.

“The MTC Sunshine Regional Cup is an important programme in our development structures,” promoter Nestor Tobias said.

The tournament brings together over 150 amateur boxers from all 14 regions of Namibia to come and compete for the best spot in their respective weight classes.

“As the leading boxing academy in Africa and amongst the best in the world, we must take the lead in developing talent for the future, not just for the MTC Sunshine Academy but for Namibia as well in terms of preparations for continental championships.

“Boxing is doing well in Namibia because we take development at grassroots very seriously, and we should no stop now so that we have talent in the next 10 years.”

Khomas boxing chairman Jason ‘Tucks’ Naule said they are delighted that the tournament is taking place in Windhoek and welcomes all the regions to the capital.
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Come on, you Warriors

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Come on, you WarriorsCome on, you Warriors JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

We are heading for our last Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers encounter against Zambia next year, with a victory enough to secure us a place at the Cameroon finals.

I believe that it will be a nervy and intriguing day for many of our local fans who are so eager to see the country qualify to the African showpiece.

The journey has not been easy for Riccardo Mannetti and his men but this time we go into that last match prepared for victory.

Yes, we did make things hard on ourselves because we could have qualified about a fortnight ago if we had not been held by Guinea Bissau at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

Let us forget about all that and focus on the important encounter taking place in Zambia next year.

This is a game we need to win by all means if we want to secure a place in Cameroon.

The fact that Mozambique are lurking just one point behind us makes this scenario a very tricky one.

A win for Mozambique against Guinea Bissau and a defeat from our boys will certainly end our hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations.

That is why it is important that we beat Zambia on their home ground because we know that they will try and spoil the party for us.

A draw for Mozambique and a defeat for us can also guarantee us a spot at the Africa showpiece, but we cannot take any chances and depend on other results.

Guinea Bissau are currently leading Group K with eight points, followed by Namibia on eight points.

Mozambique are in third place, on seven points, while Zambia are out of the race after securing only four points.

The group winners and runners-up will qualify for the 32nd edition of the Total African Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Cameroon from 15 June to 13 July 2019.

Namibia are seeking their third appearance at the tournament, after having qualified for the 1998 and 2008 editions.

That is why I am pleading with the Brave Warriors players and coach to keep their spirits high and play like they have never played before.

Namibia’s football has been tainted with infighting and many other problems.

I believe that qualifying to the Africa Cup of Nations would come as a welcome relief to this country and its troubled football.

I believe that our biggest problem during this campaign has been the scoring of goals.

We have been squandering so many chances that have cost us victories in matches we have dominated so far.

That is why our technical team must dedicate the last remaining months to work on the players’ finishing.

I have observed that we did have enough accurate crosses in the opponent box but failed to capitalise on any of those wonderful crosses for most of the match.

Muna Katupose however came in the second half against Bissau and managed to get to two of the crosses but his attempts went astray.

That is why the coach must consider starting him in the final match because he has proven to be a great aerial threat to opponents.

The government must arrange free buses in order for the masses to travel to Zambia.

This would definitely lift the spirits of the Brave Warriors players.

This is our time and the Brave Warriors must show us what they are made of!

jesse@namibiansun.com
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Africa news in brief

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Africa news in briefAfrica news in brief SA raises rates for first time in nearly 3 years

South Africa’s central bank increased its benchmark lending rate for the first time in nearly three years, saying the risk of higher inflation in the longer-term remained elevated and that it could not risk waiting until later to take action.

The decision to raise rates by 25 basis points to 6.75% on Thursday was the closest in recent times, and analysts said it was likely to be a once-off. The bank last raised rates in the first quarter of 2016.

Governor Lesetja Kganyago told reporters the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was aiming to anchor inflation expectations near the midpoint of its 3 to 6% target range while fending off calls to ease rates to boost growth.

Consumer inflation ticked up to 5.1% in October from 4.9% previously, data showed on Wednesday.

Three of the six MPC members argued in favour of a 25 basis points raise while the other three called for no change, said Kganyago, who is seen as one of the MPC’s more hawkish members.

-Nampa/Reuters

Nigerian central bank set to reach deal in MTN dispute

Nigeria’s central bank is on the verge of an agreement over a US$8.1 billion dispute with South African telecoms firm MTN, its governor Godwin Emefiele said on Thursday, declining to provide further details.

In August, the central bank ordered MTN and its banks to bring US$8.134 billion back into Nigeria, sending the company’s shares plummeting. The regulator alleged the firm had sent the funds abroad in breach of foreign exchange regulations.

“We have held meetings with the MTN group and we are at the verge,” Emefiele said on Thursday. “I am optimistic that we have reached the end of the road.”

-Nampa/Reuters

Congo's 9-mth copper output up

Copper output in Democratic Republic of Congo rose 8.7% year on year through the first nine months of 2018 to 908 695 tonnes while cobalt production jumped 92.5% to 115 116 tonnes, the central bank said on Thursday.

Congo is Africa’s top copper producer and the world’s leading miner of cobalt, which is a key component in electric vehicles and other electronic products.

Gold production rose 20.2% over the same period to 28,064 kg, central bank data showed.

-Nampa/Reuters
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Crypto losses near US$700bn in worst week

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Crypto losses near US$700bn in worst weekCrypto losses near US$700bn in worst weekSince bubble burst The great cryptocurrency crash of 2018 is heading for its worst week yet. There’s still a lot of people in this game- Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia Pacific, Oanda Bitcoin sank toward US$4 000 and most of its peers tumbled on Friday, extending the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index’s weekly decline to 25%. That’s the worst five-day stretch since crypto-mania peaked in early January.

After an epic rally last year that exceeded many of history’s most notorious bubbles, cryptocurrencies have become mired in a nearly US$700 billion rout that shows few signs of abating. Many of the concerns that sparked the 2018 slump - including increased regulatory scrutiny, community infighting and exchange snafus - have only intensified this week. Even after losses exceeding 70% for most virtual currencies, Oanda Corporation’s Stephen Innes has yet to see strong evidence of a capitulation that might signal a market bottom.

“There’s still a lot of people in this game,” Innes, head of trading for Asia Pacific at Oanda, said by phone from Singapore. If Bitcoin “collapses, if we start to see a run down toward US$3 000, this thing is going to be a monster. People will be running for the exits.”

Innes said his base case forecast is for Bitcoin to trade between US$3 500 and US$6 500 in the short term, with the potential to fall to US$2 500 by January.

The largest cryptocurrency retreated 4.4% to US$4 237 at 11:31 in Hong Kong, according to Bloomberg composite pricing. Rivals Ether, Ripple and Litecoin all declined at least 4.8%. The market value of all cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap.com sank to US$138 billion, down from about US$835 billion at the market peak in January.

-Fin24
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Klein's suspension irks Jooste

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Klein's suspension irks JoosteKlein's suspension irks JoosteMinister was not consulted Following reports on social media over the weekend of the suspension of Telecom CEO Theo Klein, public enterprises minister, Leon Jooste expressed his frustration with boards ignoring directives. Reports emerged on Friday that the CEO of Telecom Namibia Theo Klein was suspended following a probe into an apparent fake tender with N$12 million. Both The Namibian and the NBC reported that the acting chairperson of the parastatal Irene Simeon-Kurtz had confirmed Klein's suspension in a letter dated 23 November 2018 “that was directed to government”.

She is quoted as saying that the suspension follows an internal investigation launched by Telecom in October and following an 'extraordinary board meeting” on 23 November 2018, “resolved to suspend Mr Theo Klein”.

On Sunday, neither Oiva Angula, the senior manager of corporate communications and public relations at Telecom Namibia, nor public enterprises minister Leon Jooste, could confirm Klein's suspension. Angula told Namibian Sun that he was off and not at work and consequently could not comment. Jooste, when asked to confirm Klein's suspension, told Namibian Sun, “Apparently, yes.” He confirmed that he had not seen any documentation and was not consulted. “I am shocked to learn of this through social media sources on Friday. We issued a very clear directive that all SOE boards have to seek permission from the line minister and the Ministry of Public Enterprises before any CEO or member of senior management may be suspended. “I find it ludicrous that a board chooses to deliberately ignore such a directive,” he said. He added that he will use current legal provisions at his disposal to hold boards accountable for undue financial consequences that may “result from these suspensions”. Jooste said that his ministry supports and encourages probes of senior employees and then to take appropriate disciplinary measures or report suspected fraud and corruption to the ACC or police, but added “it is very seldom necessary or beneficial to suspend the person”. Reports on Klein's suspension state that he would be served with charges within 48 hours as provided for by Telecom's company policy. Klein's suspension follows those of three senior executives to allow an investigation into how the company had paid some of the monies into the alleged N$12 million false contract.
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Namibia needs innovation

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Namibia needs innovationNamibia needs innovationPragmatic solutions proposed There is a lack of innovation among Namibian small businesses, especially young entrepreneurs. When these 120 applications were submitted to us, they all had the same plan. - First Lady Monica Geingos NDAMA NAKASHOLE

Because of a lack of innovation, there are few new and unique businesses being created in Namibia, says First Lady Monica Geingos.

Young Namibians tend to submit very similar business plans and proposals, she said at a conference on micro-lending held in Windhoek last week.

In their presentation on their youth entrepreneurship credit fund, the National Youth Council (NYC) also raised concern about the lack of uniqueness in business proposals.

Geingos said one of the concerns at the One Economy Foundation’s flagship entrepreneurial programme is mass submissions with the same plan.

The Foundation’s One Nation Fund offers collateral-free business loans.

She cited the example of someone in north-eastern Namibia who charged 120 people fees to submit loan applications to the Foundation on their behalf.

“When these 120 applications were submitted to us, they had the same plan,” Geingos said, adding that the Fund ended up rejecting all of them.

Geingos also warned against Facebook scams where people claiming to be from her office inbox people, offering them business loans at a fee.

Geingos called on the financial sector to collaborate in order to service a market that is inherently not profitable.

The NYC said limited funding could be one of the reasons why many young people have the same, limited business ventures.

Solutions

One of the pragmatic solutions proposed at the conference was the establishment of a database of products and service providers which would be easily accessible to entrepreneurs.

Training and mentoring of entrepreneurs before granting loans was another proposal.

The discussion concluded that there is a need to review the language used in documentation and to consider translation into indigenous languages.

Other solutions are to strengthen collaboration with key agencies to promote regional and international exposure to promote innovation, as well as to focus on value addition through import substitution.

Promoting agricultural productivity, decentralising renewable energy for grassroots entrepreneurs and better coordination between rural-based private- and public-sector agencies were also suggested.

The discussion called for the adoption of the EMPERETEC model by the government. It is a programme established by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to promote the creation of sustainable, innovative, and internationally competitive small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Engagement with local authorities to revise strategies regarding business trading premises for micro traders was another solution agreed upon.

Other solutions include: developing software that would help micro-lenders to process applications; entrepreneurial training at school level; creating awareness about relevant laws and regulations; rural industrialisation; and increased support for the Namibia Correctional Services’ rehabilitation programme and Reintegration Fund for ex-inmates.
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Stop the plunder

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Stop the plunderStop the plunderLogging permits must be withdrawn The minister of environment and tourism has stopped the plunder of endangered trees in northeastern Namibia, 15 months after a conservation organisation had raised the alarm. Not a single environmental clearance certificate was ever issued for the felling and commercial trade of timber, which means that the large-scale felling of protected tree species is being done illegally, environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta has revealed.

Shifeta said at a press briefing on Friday that only two or three environmental clearance certificates were issued to the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry: not for trade in trees, but for the clearing of land for crop production in the Zambezi Region. He said he had given instructions that all harvesting permits that had been issued must be withdrawn immediately. Shifeta said his ministry would require evidence that those permits were in fact withdrawn.





















Shifeta also revealed that the environmental commissioner, Theo Nghitila, is working together with the police to impound any shipments of timber, especially in the Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West regions.

“I do not know if people do not understand. We will name and shame them,” said Shifeta of officials in the agriculture ministry who are issuing logging permits without environmental clearance.

He also said his ministry was considering putting a moratorium on tree harvesting “to do things properly and reorganise ourselves”.

“At the moment people are taking the timber away. Let us talk value addition here; we are currently creating jobs for other people,” Shitefa said.

He said the ministry was investigating the issuance of harvesting and transport licences for timber, but would not reveal any of the plans that are afoot.

This turn of events come after the agriculture ministry admitted that it had issued 161 harvesting permits to small-scale farmers in Kavango East, which led to a massive surge in the export of the harvested trees to China and raised serious concerns about deforestation.

The Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) has been trying to engage the agriculture ministry on the issue for about 15 months and has expressed serious concern about deforestation in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions.

Dr Chris Brown, CEO of the NCE, has written on several occasions to agriculture permanent secretary Percy Misika and forestry director Joseph Hailwa about the large-scale commercial deforestation and the unsustainable levels of timber extraction.

In early November Brown again wrote to Hailwa and said the forestry directorate seemed to be “totally outside of any public platform or any initiative to try and manage, prevent and reverse the situation”.

Brown said forestry staff “horrified” by the situation had contacted the NCE clandestinely for fear of raising the issue officially, adding that there seemed to be something “seriously wrong”.

In October the NCE said in a letter to Misiki that an immediate moratorium on all commercial woodland clearing and timber harvesting was needed.

It proposed to Misiki that an independent investigation and review of the performance, practices and modus operandi of the forestry sector be initiated, assessed against the forestry mission and objectives of the ministry. It also proposed an assessment of the state of Namibia's woodlands, with the focus on woodland loss over the last five years.

Brown said all attempts to engage the agriculture ministry were met with silence.



SAND MINING

Also on Friday, Shifeta reiterated that traditional authorities may only permit sand mining in communal areas if environmental clearance certificates have been issued.

The ministry had met with northern branches of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) earlier this month and it was agreed that illegal sand mining must stop.

The ministry also undertook not to unnecessarily delay the issuing of environmental clearance certificates.

Shitefa said all incidents of illegal sand mining would be investigated and the culprits would be prosecuted.

In terms of the Environmental Management Act, illegal mining can incur a fine of up to N$500 000, or 25 years in prison, or both.

The police have been instructed to stop all sand mining done without environmental clearance certificates.

The meeting also agreed that no sand mining would be allowed in mahangu fields and no application for such would be considered.
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Pensioner ankle-deep in sewage

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Pensioner ankle-deep in sewagePensioner ankle-deep in sewage A 91-year-old kindergarten owner in Katutura's so-called Wambo-lokasie has endured streams of sewage running through her house and yard for months, while City of Windhoek staff failed to offer a solution.

Elisabeth Joseph, who started her kindergarten shortly after independence, says she sits in the corner of the yard the entire day to watch the children, making sure they do not play in the sewage.

When Namibian Sun arrived at the house on Friday morning the stench was so unbearable that we had to move to the far corner of the yard to have a conversation.

Almost every corner in the yard had a puddle of dirty water filled with rubbish and faeces. Joseph said they cannot live normal lives because of the stench, which gets even worse on hot days. “We cannot even cook because of the smell; it runs right past the window. At some point the water spilled over the toilet pot and ran through the house. Some days the water pushes up in the kitchen,” she said.















Joseph said the City of Windhoek was informed of the problem three months ago and was told repeatedly that the drain is overflowing, but nothing has been done.

“They told us that apparently there is a stone in the drain, but of all the many times that they were here they never came with a machine. They only come here with pieces of wire and poke around in the drain and then they leave,” she said.

Joseph is convinced that the problem is at the main drain in the residential area, but city staff allegedly ignored her suggestions that they must investigate there.

“Every time we call them they ask for our erf number and say they will call back, but nothing happens,” she added.

City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said she could only respond after the weekend.

“If you call me tomorrow then I can find out from our waterworks people to hear if it was indeed reported. Now it is a Sunday,” she said.



Track record

Joseph's plight is not an isolated incident, as sewage is found flowing through the streets of various parts of the city on a daily basis.

Namibian Sun reported a fortnight ago about the Gemengde community in Katutura living amid the stench of sewage. They claimed that the City had failed to deal with the issue for nearly two months.

Residents of Gemengde community accused the municipal workers of simply “looking around, taking pictures,” and then leaving and never returning to fix the problem.



Catastrophe

These reports come at a time when Namibia is grappling with a hepatitis E outbreak and is failing to contain the spread of the disease, which has already caused a number of deaths.

Hepatitis E is a liver infection spread either by direct contact with an infected person's faeces or by the indirect faecal contamination of food or water.

The outbreak is fuelled mainly by a lack of clean water, poor sanitation and poor personal hygiene.

The first case was reported in Windhoek in October 2017, but the disease has since spread to other towns including Swakopmund and Oshakati.

The disease continues to spread unabated, with a total number of 3 859 cases and 31 deaths reported last month.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report said in January that Namibia had limited capacity for hepatitis E laboratory diagnosis.

It said the majority of hepatitis E cases had been reported in Windhoek's informal settlements, where living conditions are poor.

“The WHO recommends the improvement of access to safe water and proper sanitation through different methods, including home water purification techniques.

“The water quality should be regularly monitored in the affected areas. The number of latrines in different settlements should be increased to address the issue of open defecation. In addition, the waste management and overall hygiene practices should be improved,” the WHO report said.
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Rundu massacre case is bogged down

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Rundu massacre case is bogged downRundu massacre case is bogged down A 20-year-old Rundu man charged with killing five members of his family is yet to be sent for psychiatric evaluation.

Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda is charged with five counts of murder for allegedly killing his grandmother, mother and three nephews at Rundu's Ndama location in July.

On Friday Chuhunda appeared before Magistrate Vivian Ndlovu, who postponed the matter to 21 January 2019 for further police investigation, for the accused to acquire legal representation and to undergo psychiatric evaluation. Chuhunda remains in police custody.



He was arrested on 1 July after allegedly killing his grandmother, Ndongo Ntumba (77), his mother, Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46), and his three nephews, Musenge Petrus Muruti (6), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (4) and Musenge Elias Tjingelesu (3).





























According to the police, Chuhunda went berserk when his sister refused to give him money.

“The motive behind the suspect's actions is allegedly that he demanded to be given money earlier during the day. However, the money was not given to him and as a result he assaulted the sister. The sister went to report the matter to the police and that agitated the suspect, who then assaulted his family, killing them instantly with a stick,” the crime report read.

It is further alleged that Chuhunda is a drug user and could be mentally challenged.

There was a public outcry after allegations were made on social media that Chuhunda's sister had called the police shortly before the mass murder but that they did not respond as there was no transport available.

Meanwhile, according to an article by Nampa, two senior police officers who were accused of failing to respond in this incident have been found guilty of negligence.

A police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, said disciplinary action was taken against the two officers last week.

She said the two – former Rundu station commander Chief Inspector Andreas Mushongo Haingura and Chief Inspector Eberhard Muyambo - were found guilty of negligence and fined N$1 500 each.

Haingura was redeployed to the Kavango East regional police headquarters after the incident.

As for the four junior officers who were on duty at the time of the massacre, Shikwambi said their disciplinary process would soon be completed.

The outcomes of the two disciplinary cases were still subject to review by police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga, she added.

- Additional reporting by NAMPA









KENYA KAMBOWE
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Brave Warriors retain Geingob Cup

November 25, 2018, 2:00 pm
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Brave Warriors retain Geingob CupBrave Warriors retain Geingob CupWild celebrations at stadium Namibia managed to put their goal-scoring failures behind them as they scored four remarkable goals at home. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



Captain Petrus Shitembi scored the winning penalty as the Brave Warriors ran out 4-1 winners over Ghana and retained the Hage Geingob Cup at a packed Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Namibia and Ghana met for the fifth edition of the Dr Hage Geingob Cup in front of President Geingob and an appreciative crowd.

The teams entertained all the way to a penalty shootout after a one-all draw.

Muna Katupose opened the scoring for the hosts on 30 minutes after a great find by his striking partner Absalom Iimbondi. Katupose tucked the ball home after Eric Amwti in the Ghana goal blocked his initial attempt.

Ghana got their goal and were back in the game midway through the second half with a goal by Shafiu Mumuni.

Both sides had more chances to score and win. Notably for Namibia, midfielder Dynamo Fredericks hit both uprights, first at 1-0 up and then in added time at 1-1, while Katupose fluffed his shot straight at Amtwi.

For Ghana, Mumuni was threatening with his big frame and aerial prowess, while captain Mohammed Fatau, Justice Blay and Kwesi Donsu also came close.

Petrus Shitembi shone in midfield for the hosts, wearing the armband in the absence of regular skipper Ronald Ketjijere.

But in the end, a penalty shootout decided the winner of the 2018 Dr Hage Geingob Cup.

Willy Stephanus and Marcel Papama converted for Namibia while McCarthy Appiah scored and Kwadwo Amoako kicked wide of goal. Immanuel Heita then put Namibia 3-1 up and Fatau had his spot kick saved by Loydt Kazapua, and Shitembi scored to make it 4-1 and two out of two for the Brave Warriors in front of the patron of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), President Hage Geingob.

The celebratory event was capped with a colourful medal presentation and photo session, followed by top local musicians Gazza, Exit, Female Donkey, Tequila, Tate Buti and The Dogg doing their thing.

Earlier in the day, the Young Gladiators got their preparations for the upcoming Region Five Games to a good start with a 1-0 win over their seniors, the national under-23 women’s side.
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