FM Investments crowned soccer tournament kings

FM Investments defeated Bokomo 3-0 in the final of the Guan's Packaging open soccer tournament in Kuisebmond on Saturday.

Goals by Steven Damaseb (Jnr) and Nampie Humphries secured the floating trophy, medals, and N$12 000 cash prize for the champions. Bokomo, the runners-up, bagged N$9 000 for their efforts. Otapi defeated Tunacor 1-0 in the third and fourth place play-offs and pocketed N$5 000.

FM Investments defeated Otapi 1-0, courtesy of a Steven Damaseb Jnr goal in the first semi-final, while Bokomo defeated Tunacor 3-1 in the second semi-final. Jeremiaha Gabriel (2) and Bunjee Naftali (1) scored for Bokomo, and Atanias Ihepavali replied for Tunacor.

Otapi defeated Seaflower, FM Investments defeated Amatuks, Bokomo defeated Northern Stars and Tunacor defeated Strauss Construction in the quarterfinal round of the competition. Eighteen teams competed in the inaugural open tournament which played on a straight knockout basis. Previous tournaments usually accommodated teams from companies only.

Organiser Revin Fischer of Guan’s Packaging and a former Eleven Arrows forward said the winner (FM Investments) would host the next event. He also expressed his satisfaction with how the tournament went overall. “We experienced a few minor issues which we managed to sort out. The number of teams that entered was far more than we expected. We had three teams from Swakopmund, and the rest were from Walvis Bay. The idea was to have teams from all over Namibia join in the fun.”

Fischer also said that the mission of keeping the youth and inactive soccer players occupied positively, was accomplished and plans are being discussed to host a youth tournament. “Most of the 270 players in action were youth players. The tournament also featured the likes of Steven Damaseb (Jnr), a national u/20 senior player, and Blue Waters stalwart Aprocius 'Kalefa' Petrus. We also made use of Namibian Football Association (NFA) referees.”