Grassroots stars to shine at Tses Spring Sports Festival

The 14th edition of the Spring Sports Festival will take place in Tses, ǁKaras Region, from 2 to 4 October, with 38 soccer teams from the ǁKaras and Hardap regions and 12 netball teams expected to compete.

The tournament caters mainly for grassroots players and teams, including those from the Second Division, Third Division and non-league competitions. It features soccer, netball and volleyball and attracts close to 1,000 athletes each year.

The tournament has a total prize pool of N$60,000. Entry for the soccer competition costs N$2,500 per team. The soccer winners will receive N$25,000, gold medals and a floating trophy, while the runners-up will receive N$14,000 and silver medals. The two losing semi-finalists will each receive N$5,500. In the netball competition, teams will pay an entry fee of N$500. The winners will receive N$5,000, gold medals and a floating trophy, while the runners-up will receive N$3,500 and silver medals. The third-placed team will receive N$1,500 and bronze medals. Last year's event featured only a soccer tournament, with Amariver from Rosh Pinah beating /Gom /Gom from Maltahöhe 1-0 in the final.

The annual festival was established to provide sporting opportunities for participants, promote an understanding of sport and culture, and give players a platform to showcase their talent. "The event has grown over the years and is now one of the largest sporting events in the southern regions, attracting participants from across Namibia. The objective of the festival is to keep young people away from criminal activities and social ills such as alcohol and drug abuse through the development and promotion of rural sport,” said founder and chairperson Thomas Tsuseb.

According to Tsuseb, the tournament had also provided a pathway for several teams to join Third Division regional leagues in the ǁKaras and Hardap regions. "There is more to the festival than entertainment. With it, we are also creating an opportunity for small businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals to market their products. This event unites the community and, in doing so, creates different opportunities in terms of business and sportsmanship. The aim is also to develop and enhance rural sport and players, to prepare teams for future competitions and leagues. This type of tournament creates future stars and brings out hidden talent in rural areas. It also allows teams in various leagues to scout players," he said.

“We call it the World Cup of the South. The event always draws a huge influx of over 4000 people, and this means good business for everybody in Tses. Spectators enjoy the top-grade meat from our area on offer, and vendors earn a good profit. A strong police presence also ensures a safe environment,” said Elifas Shiini, a local businessman in Tses. 

The festival, however, faces financial and logistical challenges, Tsuseb said, mainly because it does not have an official corporate sponsor. “We only receive small donations from various businesses, small enterprises and individuals who contribute financially and logistically. Sonop Farms – Noordoewer and Theodor Namibia have come on board and are supporting the event this year,” he said. Tsuseb can be contacted on 081 471 8079