Africa-Press – Namibia. GOBABIS dominated the 2022 Standard Bank Junior Hockey National Festival which took place on the Windhoek High School artificial turf on Saturday.
A total of 240 u10 junior hockey players from twelve towns representing eleven regions took part in the second edition of the Standard Bank Junior Hockey National Festival held in Windhoek on Saturday.
This is the biggest junior hockey tournament to be staged in Namibia over the past ten years when it comes to regional representation.
All twelve towns (Windhoek, Rehoboth, Mariental, Outjo, Rundu, Omaruru, Keetmanshoop, Gobabis, Tsumeb, Outapi, Ongwediva and Okahandja) that hockey was introduced to over the past eleven months managed to take part in the tournament.
The event was well-attended by parents, with some travelling from as far as Keetmanshoop and Outapi to support these talented junior hockey players.
In the boys final Gobabis defeated Mariental 1-0 on a penalty shootout after the two teams played to a goalless draw during normal time. In the bronze medal match the host team, Windhoek saw off last year’s winner, Okahandja 2-0 to finish third.
In the girls’ section the defending champions, Gobabis successfully defended their trophy when they beat Windhoek 2-0 in final.
The third-place playoff was a match between two newcomers, Tsumeb and Ongwediva, which showed the great strides that they have made over the past year. Last year they didn’t even play hockey at all, but on Saturday they managed to reach the semifinals before being knocked out.
In the bronze medal match the two newcomers played to a goalless draw during regulation time, before Ongwediva went on to win the penalty shootout.
“Ongwediva winning the bronze medal, was an eye-opener to many other teams, showing that hard works pays off,” the tournament organiser Erwin Handura said.
“The double gold for Gobabis serves as motivation to the other towns that early preparations and properly-run leagues will bear fruits. On behalf of the players and coaches we thank our sponsor, Standard Bank Namibia,” he added.
Ten boys and ten girls were selected to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Team and each received a certificate. The awards winners are as follows:
Boys
Gold medal: Gobabis
Silver medal: Mariental
Bronze medal: Khomas
Girls
Gold medal: Gobabis
Silver medal: Windhoek
Bronze medal: Ongwediva
Team with the Best Spirit: Rehoboth
Individual awards
Boys
Best Goalkeeper: Fillemon Kanalelo (Windhoek)
Best Defender: Rowan Ngejama (Omaheke)
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Prince-Lee Kasanga (Whk)
Girls
Best Goalkeeper: Willy-Ann Koper (Rehoboth)
Best Defender: Viola Mangura (Windhoek)
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Tjimarija Kahitu (Gobabis).
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