Soccer tournament in aid of mental health launched
Teams can register until today
Businesswoman Esser Shilimela recently launched the Vinpar Essie Knockout Cup, aimed at boosting mental health and fitness, with teams afforded a chance to win N$15 000.
Businesswoman Esser Shilimela launched the Vinpar Essie Knockout Cup on Wednesday last week at Ongwediva to motivate and encourage mental health and fitness, especially amongst the youth.
The cup is slated to take place from 15 to 17 September at the Mweshipandeka Sport Stadium in Ongwediva as well as the José Eduardo Dos Santos Campus, depending on the registered teams.
The launch of the cup comes at a time when Namibia continues to record high suicide rates, attributed to a rise in mental health problems, including depression, in the country. Shilimela expressed her wish to stand united with the youth during this challenging period when mental health is under threat.
"There is no doubt that participation in sport helps generate a variety of profound, positive impacts on the socioeconomic and health benefits for the youth and its society, essentially helping with mental health," she said.
Growth outlook
The cup is planned to be an annual event, and this year, it will exclusively feature male soccer teams. Shilimela said next year, the cup will include opportunities for women as well as a netball category.
The long-term goal, she said, is to see the initiative grow nationally and turn into a national soccer cup or league.
Shilimela said the tournament offers an opportunity for all soccer teams, players and small and medium enterprises to participate in the tournament.
Mental health boost
Ongwediva mayor Taarah Shalyefu said the cup will add value to the lives of young people and the community at large.
Shalyefu applauded Shilimela for the initiative, saying she is assisting unemployed Namibians, especially the young.
"We have so many youth sitting idle doing nothing, and they end up involved in criminal activities. We need to help our young ones and not just look at them and say they should start their own businesses," he said.
Shalyefu said the Ongwediva town council has at times assisted some unemployed youth to start their own projects and called on the private sector to invest in youth initiatives to assist in reducing unemployment in the country.
Big rewards
Cleopas Nghimane, managing director of the tournament, said football is not merely kicking the ball – it's a viable career option, and people are now sustaining themselves through it.
Nghimane also expressed the opinion that youth can avoid many of what he described as "complicated situations" by staying engaged in sport.
"As we all know and understand, sport is also a key to success, and at the same time, sport is also a part of education. This Knockout Cup is starting from humble beginnings with attractive prizes to be won. For the Namibia Football Association coaches, this is a great opportunity to scout for players," he said.
Registration for teams ends on 13 September. The winners of the cup will walk away with a floating trophy and a cash prize of N$15 000. The second team will get a cash prize of N$10 000, third and fourth teams will each receive N$6 000 and N$4 000, respectively. Entrance for the public will be free.
The cup is slated to take place from 15 to 17 September at the Mweshipandeka Sport Stadium in Ongwediva as well as the José Eduardo Dos Santos Campus, depending on the registered teams.
The launch of the cup comes at a time when Namibia continues to record high suicide rates, attributed to a rise in mental health problems, including depression, in the country. Shilimela expressed her wish to stand united with the youth during this challenging period when mental health is under threat.
"There is no doubt that participation in sport helps generate a variety of profound, positive impacts on the socioeconomic and health benefits for the youth and its society, essentially helping with mental health," she said.
Growth outlook
The cup is planned to be an annual event, and this year, it will exclusively feature male soccer teams. Shilimela said next year, the cup will include opportunities for women as well as a netball category.
The long-term goal, she said, is to see the initiative grow nationally and turn into a national soccer cup or league.
Shilimela said the tournament offers an opportunity for all soccer teams, players and small and medium enterprises to participate in the tournament.
Mental health boost
Ongwediva mayor Taarah Shalyefu said the cup will add value to the lives of young people and the community at large.
Shalyefu applauded Shilimela for the initiative, saying she is assisting unemployed Namibians, especially the young.
"We have so many youth sitting idle doing nothing, and they end up involved in criminal activities. We need to help our young ones and not just look at them and say they should start their own businesses," he said.
Shalyefu said the Ongwediva town council has at times assisted some unemployed youth to start their own projects and called on the private sector to invest in youth initiatives to assist in reducing unemployment in the country.
Big rewards
Cleopas Nghimane, managing director of the tournament, said football is not merely kicking the ball – it's a viable career option, and people are now sustaining themselves through it.
Nghimane also expressed the opinion that youth can avoid many of what he described as "complicated situations" by staying engaged in sport.
"As we all know and understand, sport is also a key to success, and at the same time, sport is also a part of education. This Knockout Cup is starting from humble beginnings with attractive prizes to be won. For the Namibia Football Association coaches, this is a great opportunity to scout for players," he said.
Registration for teams ends on 13 September. The winners of the cup will walk away with a floating trophy and a cash prize of N$15 000. The second team will get a cash prize of N$10 000, third and fourth teams will each receive N$6 000 and N$4 000, respectively. Entrance for the public will be free.
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