10/08/2022
YOU CAN'T LOSE IF YOU GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT!
That is essentially what the Okahandja Under-19 netball and Under-20 football teams discovered when they went to Grootfontein for the Otjozondjupa Governor's Cup last month.
With the games staged at the Omulunga Stadium, football and netball fans were treated to some good action with Okahandja right in the middle of all the fun. The seven constituencies of the region in Omatako. Okakarara, Otjiwarongo, Okahandja, Tsumkwe and Otavi joined the hosts Grootfontein in the competition.
The football team was paired in what was dubbed the 'group of death' alongside hosts Grootfontein and Otjiwarongo as well as Tsumkwe.
The task was thus to make sure to win at least two games to ensure qualification to the semi-finals.
"You don't want any team to ride on your back," the football head coach Efraim Geingob told the players, ahead of their first game against Tsumkwe.
The boys responded in good fashion as they won their opener 4-1, although the score could have been higher since the team wasted some clear chances.
But with the first step taken well, the next task was against Otjiwarongo, who had beaten Grootfontein 2-0 in their first clash. Having worked out a game plan to diffuse the danger posed by the Otjiwarongo players, Okahandja won the game late on, after a foul on Simon Daniel resulted in a penalty. Wesley Owoseb converted to effectively seal the team's progress to the semifinals.
But the team still had one more match to play with the hosts Grootfontein. This time Owoseb came with the assist for Daniel to score the solitary goal.
In the semifinals, Okahandja faced Otavi and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
The final saw them get a rematch against Otjiwarongo but despite drawing 1-1, the team lost 5-4 on penalties.
A silver medal is what the boys received while the netball team did one better as they claimed gold without losing one single match.
Despite the loss for the boys, though, their tenacity and fighting spirit endeared them to the fans in Grootfontein while five of the team's players were selected to the provisional regional team. The players selected are: defender Gustav Kaeka, left bak Rakesh Witbooi, midfielders George Gaweseb and Ngutjiua Murangi and striker Wesley Owoseb.
This proved that once you give playing your best shot, you will always gain more, than just winning a football match..
Meanwhile. all the players and travelling party expressed thanks to Okahandja Regional councillor Bethuel Tjivii Tjaveondja, for his unwavering support in the build up to and at the tournament..
Photos;
Pic 1. Councillor Bethuel Tjivii Tjaveondja
Pic 2, The technical team for the boys included (from left) Kenny Malgas Kenneth (assistant coach), Efraim Geingob (head coach) and Gabriel Ndokotora (technical director)
pic 3. THe Under-20 team pose for a picture prior to the final.
Pic 4. SUPER STARS: The netball team, with their coach Ambosius Eichab, pose with theigold medals.
