Zebra, Keja win Okozonduzu tourney NAMPA Epupa Zebra Stars from Opuwo and Chief Keja United from Okondjatu emerged victorious in the football and netball categories of the Okozonduzu annual tournament over the Easter weekend.
Held at Okozonduzu in the Otjozondjupa Region, the tournament - which attracted 28 football teams and 20 netball teams - started on Friday and ended Monday.
Speaking to Nampa in an interview on Tuesday, tournament organiser Ngatuuane Hange hailed the tourney a success at rural level, adding that since professional football in the country has faded, such tourneys have kept sports stars together and busy with their favourite sport codes.
He said rural sporting events have over the years played a vital role in sports development, especially at grassroots level where talent often gets overlooked.
Netball stars
The netball category semi-final games saw Kwasa-Kwasa from Okotjitundu losing 75-25 to Chief Keja from Okondjatu, while !Naire yaKatupapa from Okondjatu defeated Otjeue City from Aminius by 35 to 31 points.
In the final game, Chief Keja defeated !Naire yaKatupapa by 35 points to 31 points, earning them N$ 6 000, a trophy and 12 gold medals as champions, while the team from Okatupapa received N$3 000 as runner-up. Both semi-final losers got N$1 500.
Football heroes
The semi-final games for the football category saw Epupa Zebra Stars from Kunene beating Ohoze Osopke from Okondjatu 2-0 while the second semi-final witnessed the team from Otjituuo, Tuckline Bucks, defeating Otjeue City from Omaheke by five goals to four on penalties after drawing one-one on regulation time.
Epupa Zebra Stars showed enough strength and courage during the final match by defeating Tuckline Bucks by a one-goal margin.
As champions of the 13th edition of the annual Okozonduzu tournament, Epupa Zebra Stars walked away with N$13 000 and a trophy, with Tuckline Bucks collecting N$ 8 000 as runner-up. The semi-final losers each walked away with N$3 500.
Hange said all Covid-19 protocols and measures were observed throughout the long-weekend tournament.