Afro Stars crowned Excellence Cup champions
Basketball
Afro Stars were crowned champions of the inaugural Basketball Excellence Cup, hosted by Pro Youth Foundation in collaboration with the United States Embassy in Namibia to uplift the youth through basketball.
Held at Windhoek’s Augustineum Secondary School basketball courts last weekend, the knockout competition featured a total of six local basketball teams selected by style of play to foster a competitive tournament.
Afro Stars competed alongside Quality Basketball Club (QBC), Cadets, Penguins, United States (US) Embassy Eagles and Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).
The first knockout round saw Afro Stars dominate Cadets 21-7, Penguins beat Nust by a narrow 13-10 and US Embassy Eagles succumb to QBC in a tough 16-6 defeat.
In the second round knockout, Nust were drawn against Afro Stars as the best-placed non-winner but failed to find a win after a 17-8 defeat. QBC took on Penguins, failing to get their second win of the tournament after a 16-11 loss.
Penguins and Afro Stars then faced off for the championship in the final, where the latter emerged victorious with a decisive 18-10 win.
Champions reaction
Reflecting on the win, Afro Stars player and team manager Charles Unozeu Karumendu was all smiles.
“We deserve it after making it through such a tough competition to win the overall title. Thank you to [the US Embassy and Pro Youth Foundation] for a nice initiative and the opportunity to be part of it,” he said.
Afro Stars’ Adilson Morais was named the Most Outstanding Player for his “unmatched hustle, leadership and heart on the court.”
Speaking at the occasion, the US Embassy’s acting deputy chief of mission Alexis Haftvani expressed the embassy’s delight in what she described as a great turnout at an excellent level of excitement.
“Our goal is to exercise sports diplomacy. We want to get to know the country’s sporting communities,” she said.
More tournaments to follow for youth
This publication also caught up with the Pro Youth Foundation’s executive team, comprising Lancelot Musesengea, Alex Malonda, Bheki Maposa and David Newman as executive director.
Musesengea said Pro Youth Foundation is a non-governmental organisation to help the youth in various skill sets, including sports.
“The tournament is an introduction to more opportunities to come for the youth. This initiative [and our future initiatives aim] to give them access to skills rather than being seen as liabilities,” he remarked.
Norman assured there would be many more competitions and tournaments to follow in the near future.
The Pro Youth Foundation can be found on social media as @PYF_Namibia on X, @proyouthfoundation_namibia on Instagram and Pro Youth Foundation on Facebook.
– [email protected]
Held at Windhoek’s Augustineum Secondary School basketball courts last weekend, the knockout competition featured a total of six local basketball teams selected by style of play to foster a competitive tournament.
Afro Stars competed alongside Quality Basketball Club (QBC), Cadets, Penguins, United States (US) Embassy Eagles and Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).
The first knockout round saw Afro Stars dominate Cadets 21-7, Penguins beat Nust by a narrow 13-10 and US Embassy Eagles succumb to QBC in a tough 16-6 defeat.
In the second round knockout, Nust were drawn against Afro Stars as the best-placed non-winner but failed to find a win after a 17-8 defeat. QBC took on Penguins, failing to get their second win of the tournament after a 16-11 loss.
Penguins and Afro Stars then faced off for the championship in the final, where the latter emerged victorious with a decisive 18-10 win.
Champions reaction
Reflecting on the win, Afro Stars player and team manager Charles Unozeu Karumendu was all smiles.
“We deserve it after making it through such a tough competition to win the overall title. Thank you to [the US Embassy and Pro Youth Foundation] for a nice initiative and the opportunity to be part of it,” he said.
Afro Stars’ Adilson Morais was named the Most Outstanding Player for his “unmatched hustle, leadership and heart on the court.”
Speaking at the occasion, the US Embassy’s acting deputy chief of mission Alexis Haftvani expressed the embassy’s delight in what she described as a great turnout at an excellent level of excitement.
“Our goal is to exercise sports diplomacy. We want to get to know the country’s sporting communities,” she said.
More tournaments to follow for youth
This publication also caught up with the Pro Youth Foundation’s executive team, comprising Lancelot Musesengea, Alex Malonda, Bheki Maposa and David Newman as executive director.
Musesengea said Pro Youth Foundation is a non-governmental organisation to help the youth in various skill sets, including sports.
“The tournament is an introduction to more opportunities to come for the youth. This initiative [and our future initiatives aim] to give them access to skills rather than being seen as liabilities,” he remarked.
Norman assured there would be many more competitions and tournaments to follow in the near future.
The Pro Youth Foundation can be found on social media as @PYF_Namibia on X, @proyouthfoundation_namibia on Instagram and Pro Youth Foundation on Facebook.
– [email protected]
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