Top performers celebrated at Nedbank Desert Ice T20 finals
Cricket
The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League concluded its season by celebrating standout performers at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Nedbank Campus Sky Garden on 1 October.
The awards marked the grand finale of a highly competitive tournament in which Team Cricket Generation, also known as Cric Gen, from Walvis Bay, claimed the 2025 league title. They defeated the Gobabis Bulls in the final to lift the coveted trophy, winning the match by 33 runs at the Namibia Cricket Ground in July.
Okahandja Cricket Club were named Shield winners, while United scooped the Bowl award. Willem Groenewald of Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club was named Player of the Tournament, and William Lottering from Cric Gen took home the Best Bowler award. Several junior players also received top honours, highlighting the league’s strong commitment to youth development.
Fifteen-year-old Ethan du Toit won the Impact Player of the Tournament award for the second consecutive year, after earning the Impact Player of the Match award on seven occasions during the competition. Henre Opperman was named both Best Batter and Best Fielder.
Speaking after receiving his awards, seventeen-year-old Opperman of Gobabis Cricket Club emphasised the value of the tournament for emerging talent:
“I see this tournament as a big opportunity for player development and for building up career points. I have learnt that batting consistency plays a very big role in team success.”
Opperman also cherished the opportunity to play alongside and against national team players, saying it was enjoyable to learn from their experience throughout the tournament.
Chairperson of organisers Impact Cricket Namibia, Willie Junius, reflected on the league’s growth, noting its expansion from three clubs at inception to twelve.
“We had fourteen teams wanting to join, eventually settling on twelve. The interest is phenomenal. We are now at a stage where sponsors are getting involved, teams are receiving new branded kits with animal themes, and we have partnered with Synergi for professional broadcasting. That is a huge step up from using a video camera on a phone to a professional broadcast setup.”
Looking ahead, Junius revealed plans for next season, including one-hand catch prizes for fans, a more defined Super Sub rule, and unique scoring additions such as twelve runs for a six hit further than five metres, along with run penalties for the loss of a top-order batsman. He also spoke of plans to expand the tournament to more regions and to develop cricket further through partnerships with state schools, providing training and equipment.
Roean Kruger, Head of Beyond Banking at Nedbank Namibia, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the league:
“As money experts who do good, the Impact Cricket team is truly the go-to for us. From day one, we were keen to work with them because they focus on development, sport, and promoting the right culture, something Nedbank wants to be associated with.”
The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League saw a total of 46 matches played, producing 11,637 runs, including six centuries, 43 half-centuries, and 930 fours. There were 87 players dismissed for ducks, 515 wickets taken, 26 runouts, and 424 sixes struck during the tournament.
Twelve teams battled it out throughout the season: UNAM Zebras Legends, Gobabis Bulls, CCD Tigers, Cricket Generation Academy, Okahandja Cricket Club, Windhoek Affies, UNAM Zebras Strikers, Cricket Club, Run Whisperers Academy, Over 40s Cricket Veterans, Green Mambas, and Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club.
The awards marked the grand finale of a highly competitive tournament in which Team Cricket Generation, also known as Cric Gen, from Walvis Bay, claimed the 2025 league title. They defeated the Gobabis Bulls in the final to lift the coveted trophy, winning the match by 33 runs at the Namibia Cricket Ground in July.
Okahandja Cricket Club were named Shield winners, while United scooped the Bowl award. Willem Groenewald of Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club was named Player of the Tournament, and William Lottering from Cric Gen took home the Best Bowler award. Several junior players also received top honours, highlighting the league’s strong commitment to youth development.
Fifteen-year-old Ethan du Toit won the Impact Player of the Tournament award for the second consecutive year, after earning the Impact Player of the Match award on seven occasions during the competition. Henre Opperman was named both Best Batter and Best Fielder.
Speaking after receiving his awards, seventeen-year-old Opperman of Gobabis Cricket Club emphasised the value of the tournament for emerging talent:
“I see this tournament as a big opportunity for player development and for building up career points. I have learnt that batting consistency plays a very big role in team success.”
Opperman also cherished the opportunity to play alongside and against national team players, saying it was enjoyable to learn from their experience throughout the tournament.
Chairperson of organisers Impact Cricket Namibia, Willie Junius, reflected on the league’s growth, noting its expansion from three clubs at inception to twelve.
“We had fourteen teams wanting to join, eventually settling on twelve. The interest is phenomenal. We are now at a stage where sponsors are getting involved, teams are receiving new branded kits with animal themes, and we have partnered with Synergi for professional broadcasting. That is a huge step up from using a video camera on a phone to a professional broadcast setup.”
Looking ahead, Junius revealed plans for next season, including one-hand catch prizes for fans, a more defined Super Sub rule, and unique scoring additions such as twelve runs for a six hit further than five metres, along with run penalties for the loss of a top-order batsman. He also spoke of plans to expand the tournament to more regions and to develop cricket further through partnerships with state schools, providing training and equipment.
Roean Kruger, Head of Beyond Banking at Nedbank Namibia, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the league:
“As money experts who do good, the Impact Cricket team is truly the go-to for us. From day one, we were keen to work with them because they focus on development, sport, and promoting the right culture, something Nedbank wants to be associated with.”
The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League saw a total of 46 matches played, producing 11,637 runs, including six centuries, 43 half-centuries, and 930 fours. There were 87 players dismissed for ducks, 515 wickets taken, 26 runouts, and 424 sixes struck during the tournament.
Twelve teams battled it out throughout the season: UNAM Zebras Legends, Gobabis Bulls, CCD Tigers, Cricket Generation Academy, Okahandja Cricket Club, Windhoek Affies, UNAM Zebras Strikers, Cricket Club, Run Whisperers Academy, Over 40s Cricket Veterans, Green Mambas, and Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club.
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