Under 21 soccer tourney exceeds players expectations

After 176 competing players, 1,126 playing minutes, 90,963 reach, and 24,371 engagements on social media, the Bank Windhoek Ramblers Under 21 Soccer Tournament third edition crowned Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) as this year’s champions.

SKW emerged as champions after a hard-fought battle against Kasaona Football Academy (FA). The game started with Kasaona FA taking an early lead, stunning SKW supporters with George Gaweseb’s goal that sent shockwaves through the stadium. It looked like Kasaona FA might dominate the match, but SKW showed incredible resilience to fight back. Cruz Uwu-khaeb capitalised on a defensive mistake by Kasaona FA, levelling the score and turning the tide in SKW’s favour.

The intensity of the match only rose as both teams created chances but struggled to convert them into goals. Ultimately, SKW’s Mat ‘Haaland’ Plaath emerged as the day’s hero. With a clinical finish in the game’s dying moments, Plaath capitalised on a mistake by the Kasaona FA goalkeeper and scored the late winner that sealed the championship for SKW.

Ramblers and Kasaona Football Academy battled it out in a thrilling semi-final match. During the game, Ramblers struck first in the fifteenth minute with a well-taken goal that put them in the lead. However, their celebrations were short-lived, as Kasaona managed to equalise just seven minutes later, sending both teams into the break with the score tied at one all. In the end, Kasaona held their nerve and emerged victorious, winning 4:2 in the penalty shootout.

Kaizen FA secured a hard-fought bronze medal after defeating host team Ramblers in a tense penalty shootout. The final scoreline read 3:0.

Bank Windhoek’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sponsorships, Bronwyn Moody, congratulated all the participants on their outstanding performances during the tournament. “All the teams showcased their talent, resilience, and fighting spirit on the pitch. The future looks bright for Namibian football,” said Moody.

Chairman of Ramblers Soccer Academy, Sedric van Turah, thanked Bank Windhoek for its unwavering support in making the tournament successful. “We look forward to making the second edition of the Oshakati-based tournament even better,” he said.

The Bank Windhoek Ramblers Under 21 Soccer Tournament further exposes youth academy players who could not play in the Namibian soccer calendar’s Second Division, First Division, or Premier leagues. To ensure that the prize money is invested back into the team, the top three winning teams received equipment instead of actual prize money.

Ramblers, Deutscher Turn und Sportverein (DTS), Athletic Club Football Academy (ACFA), Swallows, Kasaona, Kaizen Football Academy (KFA), Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) and River Heights, were the eight Windhoek-based teams that took part in the tournament. They thanked Bank Windhoek for supporting Namibian youth soccer players and that the tournament exceeded their expectations.

The Bank Windhoek Ramblers Under 21 Soccer Tournament third edition which was hosted at Ramblers, started on Tuesday, 21 May, and concluded on Saturday, 25 May 2024. The Oshakati edition will take place on Friday, 21 June, and end on Sunday, 23 June 2024, with all matches scheduled to take place at the Oshakati Stadium.