Willy Stephanus, a former Namibia national team midfielder and current leading goal scorer for league champions African Stars, considers investing in grassroots development as a possible approach to advancing football in Namibia.
He said this following the announcement of the Awillo Stephanus Open Tournament 2024 on Wednesday in Windhoek, which gets underway at the Khomasdal Stadium in Windhoek this weekend. Stephanus has now joined the ranks of other active and former professional athletes in grassroots development.
Sharing the competition details with Nampa on Wednesday, event organiser Joel Kandjii remarked that the tournament aims to give back to the community while encouraging grassroots football by providing a platform for young athletes to demonstrate their talents.
‘The primary objective is just to give back – as Awillo himself would say, football is what brought him to where he is and without the support of the Namibian people, he would not have been able to do it,’ noted Kandjii.
He also stated
that an old age home will be selected and a donation would be presented to it by the tournament organisers as a show of goodwill toward the elderly.
The Debmarine Namibia Premier Football League’s two-time best goal scorer has committed N.dollars 40 000 to the two-day tournament.
According to Kandjii, after this first tournament, intentions are to make it an annual event held throughout the country, allowing all football players to demonstrate their skills and progress via football.
‘Awillo himself is from Keetmanshoop so we hope to take it there next year,’ he added.
Given that most major leagues have concluded their activities, Kandjii declared that there will be no limits on the number of Premier League players per team.
The registration fee is N.dollars 2 200, while those interested in trading or selling their products at the field can register with N.dollars 1 000 per stall.
Kandjii clarified that the tournament is open to all football teams in the country. The champions will receive N.dollars 20 0
00, 18 gold medals, and a trophy. The runner-up will take home N.dollars 10 000 and 18 silver medals, while the semi-final losers will each receive N.dollars 5 000.
Kandjii urged the public to come out in large numbers to support the event.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency