Havana hosts Arysteq Simonis Schools tourney

The sixth round of the Arysteq Asset Management and Simonis Storm Schools Tournament Series broke new ground on Saturday when it was staged for the first time at Havana High School on the outskirts of Windhoek.

The tournament attracted 88 entries across the age categories, comprising 54 boys and 34 girls.

Silas Anguku emerged as the standout performer of the day after claiming three division titles, taking gold in the boys’ U15, U17 and U19 categories.

His three-title haul saw Fillemon Ikanda take silver in the U19 division, Terence Kadandara finish runner-up in the U17s and Jason Kadandara collect silver in the U15 section.

The boys’ U19 bronze medallists were Jason Kadandara and Sakaria Imbondi. Kadandara added another bronze in the U17 section alongside Eliakim Namhila, while Terence Kadandara and Sakaria Imbondi took bronze in the U15 division.

In the girls’ U19 division, Karolina Shigwedha took gold ahead of Cadence Farmer, while Suverasaneje Ikorua and Justina Namupolo shared the bronze medals.

Other standout performers

Girls U17: 1 Farmer; 2 Shigwedha; 3 Namupolo and Ikorua.

Girls U15: 1 Farmer; 2 Ikorua; 3 Wilhelmina Shivute and Siphokazi Ginindidza.

Boys U13: 1 Terence Kadandara; 2 Eliakim Namhila; 3 Immanuel Hishidimbwa and Kilian Beukes.

Girls U13: 1 Sabina Shanika; 2 Kataliya Henckert; 3 Shivute and Victoria Namupolo.

Boys U11: 1 Hishidimbwa; 2 Beukes; 3 Mbundje Fortune and Makundi Madzinga.

Girls U11: 1 Esther Nelenge; 2 Sylvi Ikanda; 3 Kaylee Kahimunu and Asha Kuteeue.

Punching above their weight

Tournament organiser Theo Beukes said the Havana leg continued to show the depth of young talent coming through the schools programme.

Several players competed across more than one age group, with some testing themselves against older opposition and still reaching the podium.

Beukes thanked Havana High School for making its facilities available for the tournament and also acknowledged the parents, coaches and supporters who attended the event.

He further thanked Arysteq Asset Management and Simonis Storm for their continued backing of the schools series, saying their support has helped provide young players with regular opportunities to compete and develop over the past four years.

The date and venue for the next tournament in the series will be announced in due course.

– [email protected]