Twenty-two teams vying for Deon Hotto Charity Cup
Football
This year's edition of the Deon Hotto Foundation Charity Cup scheduled to take place from Friday until Sunday at Maboke Stadium in Omaruru, will feature 22 football teams.Carl Pesat, chairman of the Deon Hotto Foundation, says: “The fact that the entries increased from 16 to 22 teams from all over Namibia, shows that the tournament is growing and becoming a prime event on the Namibian sporting calendar.
“We believe this weekend will further enhance the impact and amplify the Deon Hotto Foundation Charity Cup for more years to come.”
According to Pesat, this edition of the tournament is based on an open format and will not feature a netball component.
“Players from schools, as well as clubs in the first division, second division and Namibian Premier League joined forces and entered teams.
“The winners will walk away with N$20 000. The runners-up will pocket N$10 000 and the beaten semifinalists N$6 000 each.”
There will also be “a last man standing” trophy awarded to the player of the tournament. “This player should be instrumental in ensuring that his team advances in the competition and wins the tournament.”
Besides unearthing local soccer talent, the organisers also intend to use the fourth edition of the tournament to raise awareness about the mandate of the Foundation which has made numerous donations and will be building a world class 10 000 seater sports facility in Mondesa, Swakopmund.
“This noble initiative has garnered significant attention and support from various stakeholders. The foundation started a donation initiative in 2018 and provides two donations per year to old-age homes, orphanages, schools and sport clubs.
“Previous beneficiaries include Coastal High School and Atlantic Combined School in Swakopmund as well as Pahye Primary School in Omaruru.”
Last year’s edition of the Deon Hotto Charity Cup saw 16 football and ten netball teams from Karibib, Omaruru and Walvis Bay compete at the Mondesa Stadium in Swakopmund.
Black Diamond defeated Swakopmund Secondary School (SSS) 39-34 in the netball final. The champions scooped N$3 000, and the runners-up pocketed N$1 800. Both teams also received Deon Hotto Foundation playing kits.
The 2023 football final saw Ama-Tuks defeat Square 7 by 1-0. Simaneka Kambungu scored the winning goal. The champions pocketed N$8 000 and the runners-up earned N$5 000. Both teams received Deon Hotto playing kits.
The inaugural edition of the tournament was hosted in Swakopmund in 2019 and the second edition in Henties Bay (2022).