The twenty-fourth edition of Nedbank Newspaper Cup launched 

The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), Dino Ballotti, officially launched the 24th edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup on Monday 9 March.

The 2026 edition of the tournament will take place in the //Kharas Region from 3 April to 6 April 2026, with young athletes from across Namibia competing in football and netball while building friendships and showcasing their talents.

Ballotti highlighted the importance of the tournament in nurturing young football and netball talent across Namibia. He also commended the long-standing partnership between the private sector, the media, and national sports bodies for creating meaningful opportunities for youth development through sport.

Ballotti further reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthen grassroots sport initiatives and noted, “The tournament not only identifies future national stars but also promotes healthy lifestyles, community participation, and national unity.” He also encouraged young players to be disciplined and dedicated and emphasised, “Competitions such as the Newspaper Cup can serve as a stepping stone towards representing Namibia on the international stage.”

The tournament is an important talent identification platform, with many national athletes having started their sporting journeys through the Newspaper Cup.

Established in 2001, the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup is one of the country’s most important youth sporting tournaments, providing an opportunity for talented young football and netball players from all 14 regions to showcase their skills, while allowing talent scouts to identify promising athletes for future national teams.

Over the years, the tournament also contributed to increased local economic activity and improvements in sporting infrastructure in the towns where it is hosted. Its continued success is sustained through strong partnerships between Nedbank Namibia, The Namibian Newspaper, the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Netball Namibia, and MEIYSAC.

Source: MEIYSAC