Blue Waters collects half a millionOne of Namibia’s oldest football clubs raised more than half a million Namibian dollars as part of their birthday celebrations over the weekend. Team celebrates 80th birthday in style 0 Blue Waters Sports Club raised N$273 000 via pledges during a glitzy gala dinner which formed part of the club’s 80th birthday celebrations on Saturday in Walvis Bay. Langer Heinrich Uranium MD Simon Solomons also announced an N$280 000 sponsorship for the next financial year to the club.
Previous sponsorships from the mine amount to over N$1.5 million since 2010. Dignitaries in attendance included the patron of the club Ben Amathila, who also celebrated his 78th birthday on 1 September, and Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, who pledged her support for the club’s future endeavours. Namibian Premier League (NPL) chairperson Johnny Doeseb informed the gathering that he would make an announcement on the N$9 million sponsorship needed to ensure the continuation of the cash strapped league in the coming week.
Celebrations kicked off with a gathering at the club’s training ground in Kuisebmond on Friday.
Former and current players joined by supporters reflected on the rich history of the club.
Blue Waters members joined the family of the clubs’ founder the late Daniel Shimbambi who founded it in 1936 for the unveiling of his tombstone at the old Swakopmund cemetery on Saturday.
Eighty blue and white balloons were then released at the club’s training ground in Kuisebmond before former Tigers players took on former Blue Waters players in a highly entertaining encounter.
Goals by Lucky Shipanga and Armando Pedro secured a 2-1 victory for the coastal giants. Bobs Seibeb scored for Tigers.
Big name
Blue Waters is considered one of the big names in Namibian football.
The team has won the second most number of titles since the introduction of the Namibia National Premier League with four successes. Their last title came in the 2003/4 season.
They have also produced a number of players that have gone on to represent Namibia at full international level.