OPUWO: The Omaheke Region has appointed a regional technical team to prepare its under-20 football squad for the annual Namibian Newspaper Cup, set to take place in Gobabis from 29 March to 01 April.

A statement availed on Wednesday said the region’s technical staff were named last week, after a decision made by the Omaheke Football Region Executive Committee during a meeting with member clubs, last week.

The Executive Committee resolved to appoint Ewaldt Himeezembi Kavirombo as head coach, deputised by former Black Africa Sports Club veteran defender Moses Muree Katjiteo. Rudiger Khiba took on the role of fitness trainer, Albert Ganeb as technical director, Ben Uirab as the team manager, and Kemo Kaiko as the equipment manager.

According to the statement, the final regional trials will take place at Legare Sports Complex B on Saturday, 27 January between 09H00 and 15H00.

‘All seven Omaheke Political Constituencies are invited to arrange for their talented players born on or after 2005, including their tr
ansport, accommodation and meals for the trials,’ read the statement, noting that the league’s regional Exco, in collaboration with the Sports Committee, will only be liable for the players’ upkeep once the 30 players have been selected and are in camp for preparations.

According to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) in a media statement this week, all players must be based in Omaheke and must present a valid identity document and an original full birth certificate to be trailed.

The tournament will be officially launched on 06 February at the Nedbank headquarters in Windhoek, with the draw taking place on 05 March in Gobabis, it said.

The Eastern Region has won the competition three times, including the first Namibian Newspaper Cup in 2001, which was hosted in Windhoek.

In that final, they defeated Otjozondjupa 3-1 and won the cup again in 2002, defeating Oshikoto 3-2 in Otjiwarongo.

They became the first team to win three times, when they defeated host Khomas 2-1 in the 2009 final.

Previously know
n as the Standard Bank Newspaper Cup, Nedbank will this year, sponsor The Namibian Newspaper Cup competition.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Internal government consultations on the country’s National Employment Policy (NEP) have been concluded and the Department of Employment and Labour will be approaching Cabinet before the end of February to release it for public comment.

This was announced by Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi on Wednesday during an employer briefing session at a Digital Hub located at the Industrial Park in Botshabelo.

The Digital Hub seeks to bridge the digital divide among the township residents and equip young people with skills and knowledge to prepare them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The NEP is aimed at fostering a demand-led employment growth and is expected to provide an overarching framework on issues of employment, including the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP). The NLMP and the Employment Services (ES) Bill are currently in Parliament before the legislators.

Nxesi said the Department of Employment and Labour and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) are currently working on legislation
– the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) – that is going to respond decisively to the challenge with respect to foreigner’s employment.

‘I can only sound an early warning to employers continuing to employ undocumented migrants to desist – you are stoking up problems for the future. Youth unemployment is a major national challenge and needs urgent and coordinated responses from all of us to address it,’ Nxesi said.

The draft NEP provides a number of interventions that include work beyond the Department of Employment and Labour to assist the country in achieving the employment levels indicated in the National Development Plan.

The NEP proposes among others the re-activation of discouraged and inactive work-seekers through targeted interventions at sector, firm and work-seeker level that influence investment, productivity and employment outcomes.

The Minister said the National Labour Migration Policy and the Employment Policy are aimed at strengthening labour market interventions and to further support
other related employment interventions that are already part of the macro-economic and fiscal policy framework.

He said the successful implementation of the policies will require inter-departmental collaboration and key stakeholders in the labour market.

Source: South African Government News Agency