Action galore expected at Taute Cup

The Omusati Region’s annual Taute Cup sports tournament sponsored by Runs Group, will have a combined prize pot of N$100 000. The eleventh edition will be held at the Severin Kambonde Gabriel Ashivudhi Sports Stadium in Okamwandi from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 August.

Ashivudhi Willem Stefanus, nicknamed Taute, a community leader and businessman from the area, came up with the idea of the tournament which is open to football and netball teams from anywhere in the country.

“Twenty-five teams registered for the football tournament. The winner will pocket N$30 000, a trophy and gold medals. The runner-up will receive N$20 000 and silver medals, the third-place finisher N$10 000 and the fourth-place finisher N$6000,” confirmed Yambo Chickwalakwala, a member of the organising committee.

The aim is to grow the event by expanding the number of teams participating, he said.

"We introduced several new award categories with cash incentives to motivate individuals and participating teams. The most disciplined team will receive N$1500 and the best equipment caretaker N$1000. The best coach, best player, top goal scorer, best referee, best assistant referee and best commentator will each receive N$500.”

The event allows any team to just come and play football, Chickwalakwala emphasised.

“It is a very important occasion for the area in terms of promoting unity and entrepreneurship. We are also showcasing our local soccer talent and unearthing new stars with clubs scouting for players. The youngsters also benefit from coaching clinics presented by coaches of the participating teams.”

According to Kornelius Yoyo, who also serves on the organising committee, the plan is to build on the existing success of the event and expand its reach by accommodating more teams. "We are inviting fans and teams from all corners of the country to enter."

The event experienced steady growth since the inaugural edition in 2012 which saw New Start FC defeat Okamwandi in the final.

“The coastal-based Premier League outfit Blue Waters won the tournament in 2022 and last year we had five First Division teams and one Premier League team competing. Golden Bigs is the defending champion; they defeated Ongwediwa City in a penalty shootout in the 2023 final with 24 four teams competing.”



Netball

Extreme from Ongwediva is the defending champion, who defeated Rums from Okamwandi in the final with five teams competing last year.

The 2024 netball champion will pocket N$5 000, a trophy and gold medals. The runner-up will receive N$3 000 and silver medals. The third-placed team will earn N$2000 and bronze medals.

“The competition is open, but allows maximum three premier league players in any team. Eleven teams registered. We upped the prize money and established categories to award individual performers – the player of the tournament, best shooter, best defender and best umpire will earn N$500 each.

“We also managed to secure a proper netball court for this year’s event,” said Flora Iiyambo, a member of the netball organising committee.

The idea is to bring the community together, promote the sport of netball and to provide an opportunity for local vendors to earn some income, she said.

“Thousands of supporters usually attend the event over three days. I am challenging teams to enter the competition. The entry fee is N$600 per team. We want to motivate youngsters to take up the sport of netball and would like to see more teams being established in our community and the surrounding areas.”