Sports – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

19 Aug

Swimmers eye Olympic path in Romania

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Seven Namibian swimmers are competing at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania, this week. The event is seen as a step in preparing for upcoming regional, continental, and world tournaments. Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (NASFED) president Riaan Steyn said the swimmers face a busy calendar with the Africa Youth Games, Youth Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Youth Commonwealth Games, and qualifications for the 2028 Olympic Games all ahead. “This event is a great platform, and further step, for our NASFED athletes towards qualification for upcoming events such as the Africa Youth Games, Youth Olympics, Commonwealth and Youth…

18 Aug

Okahandja FC keen to keep rising striker ‘Diamond’

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Okahandja Football Club ladies' head coach Richard April has cautioned rising star Tamara Renalda Hangula against moving too early to bigger teams showing interest in her. April made the remarks over the weekend while speaking about preparations for the upcoming 2025/26 Women's Super League season. Hangula (16) is already a regular in the national under-17 and under-20 teams. Known as 'diamond' in the football circles, she has scored six goals for Okahandja FC and has attracted interest from clubs such as Nust Babes, Windhoek City Ladies, Arrows Ladies, and African Stars Queens in Oshakati. April said he wants…

18 Aug

NFA rolls out buses to Botswana for Brave Warriors fans

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Football Association (NFA), together with the ministry of education, youth, sports, innovation and arts and culture, will provide buses for fans travelling to Francistown, Botswana, to watch the Brave Warriors’ World Cup qualifying matches. The buses will depart from Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, and Gobabis. A return ticket will cost N$200. NFA spokesperson Isack Hamata said the buses will leave Namibia on 4 September in the early morning, with the exact time to be confirmed. “The exact time will be communicated in the coming week. With regard to return dates, provision is being made…

14 Aug

Young African FC eyes CAF glory

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Young African Football Club says it is determined to make Namibia proud in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederations Cup when they face Royal Leopards Football Club from Eswatini. Club chairman and head coach Mali Ngarizemo said, as the only Namibian club in the competition, they are committed to representing both the club and the nation. “The entire club is buzzing with excitement as we prepare for this historic encounter. We understand the magnitude of the challenge, but we are fully committed to giving our absolute best on the continental stage. Our journey in the Debmarine Namibia…

13 Aug

NFA grants free access to games in Botswana

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Football Association (NFA) has announced that entry to the Brave Warriors’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in Botswana will be free of charge. The games will take place at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown against Malawi on 5 September and São Tomé and Príncipe on 9 September 2025. NFA interim secretary general Cassius Moetie said on Tuesday the decision is aimed at filling the stadium and boosting the team’s morale. “We would love to see all Namibians filling the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium to the brim, waving the Namibian flag high in support…

12 Aug

CAF raises funding for preliminary participants

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe African Stars FC and Young African FC will each receive N$1.7 million from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their participation in the 2025/26 inter-club competitions. CAF recently announced that the financial support for teams in the preliminary round has increased from N$850 000 to N$1.7 million. The funds will cover expenses such as travel and accommodation. African Stars will face Vipers FC from Uganda in the Champions League preliminary round, while Young African from Gobabis will play Royal Leopards from Eswatini in the Confederations Cup. The first leg for both ties will take place from 19…

11 Aug

Nghitumbwa wins WBO global title

Featured, SportsNghitumbwa

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibian boxer Fillipus “Energy” Nghitumbwa won the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Global Super Bantamweight champion on Saturday night after defeating South Africa’s Mxolisi Zuma. Nghitumbwa knocked out Zuma in the sixth round, handing him his first professional loss. Zuma fell to the canvas after taking heavy punches to the head, prompting the referee to stop the fight at two minutes and 56 seconds. Nghitumbwa now holds 16 professional fights, with 14 wins by knockout and two losses. The victory moves him closer to a world title challenge. The fight took place over the weekend at the Windhoek Country…

07 Aug

Namibia Football Association – A disgrace in interpreting and applying own statutes, rules and regulations

Opinions, Sports

Jefta Gaoab The Namibian Football Association (NFA) is the governing body for football in Namibia, responsible for organizing and promoting football activities nationwide. As the custodian of the sport, the NFA is mandated to ensure that football is played in accordance with its rules, regulations, and statutes. These must, however, remain subordinate to those of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which holds ultimate authority. In general, the NFA has demonstrated a concerning inability to consistently and effectively interpret and apply its own statutes, rules, and regulations. This ongoing failure undermines both the credibility of the institution and the…

07 Aug

Beauties FC pleads for CAF funds

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe FNB Women's Super League champions, Beauties Football Club, are appealing for financial support to participate in the upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League. The team was drawn in Group B alongside Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC (South Africa), Ntopwa FC (Malawi), and Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia). The matches will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 22 to 30 August. . The group winner and runner-up will advance to the next phase of the competition, scheduled for November 2025 in Morocco. Despite receiving N$250 000 for winning the league in May, the club says the amount is insufficient to meet…

06 Aug

Kauraisa leaves behind strong football legacy

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is mourning the death of its former president Charles Kauraisa. Kauraisa, who died on 3 August 2025, was the first democratically elected president of the NFA after independence. NFA president Robert Shimooshili announced Kauraisa’s death on Tuesday. “On behalf of the executive council, management & staff, NFA and the entire Namibian football fraternity, NFA would like to extend our deepest condolences and sympathy on the passing of a true icon of our sport, Mr Charles Kauraisa. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing on 3 August 2025. Our hearts, thoughts, and…