Keetmanshoop triumphs in inaugural southern U21 football tourney

Football
Brian Munango
  • 9 Hours Ago
Keetmanshoop recently hosted the first southern edition of the Bank Windhoek Ramblers under-21 Football Tournament, where the local side, Keetmanshoop Soccer Academy, clinched victory in a dramatic final. Held at Westdene Stadium, the tournament featured eight teams from across southern Namibia, showcasing emerging talent and regional pride.

The hosts triumphed after a 1–1 draw against Karasburg Westside Football Academy, securing the win 6–5 in a tense penalty shootout. Westside dominated much of the match and equalised with a stunning goal from their goalkeeper, but Keetmanshoop held their nerve in the shootout to take the title.

In the semi-finals, Karasburg Westside beat Mariental Sport Club 2–0, while Keetmanshoop edged Franz Beckenbauer Academy 2–1. Mariental claimed third place with a 3–2 win over Franz Beckenbauer despite the latter controlling large parts of the game.

Individual accolades were shared among standout performers. Geraldo Mouton (Aroab Football Club) and Tangeni Swartbooi (Mariental) were joint top scorers. The Best Goalkeeper award went to both Lumando Basson (Karasburg) and Christiano Louw (Franz Beckenbauer), while Keetmanshoop’s Pieter Perkat was named Best Young Player.

The tournament is part of Bank Windhoek’s ongoing initiative to support youth football development. Since its launch in 2022, the under-21 series has received over N$1.1 million in investment and has already helped several players progress to the Namibia Premier League and national teams.

This year’s southern edition included teams from Karasburg, Aroab, Rosh Pinah, Mariental, Koes, Oranjemund and two sides from Keetmanshoop. The competition builds on previous editions in Windhoek and continues to expand across the country.

Bank Windhoek’s Audrey Mostert and Samuel Linyondi attended the event and commended the players’ skill, teamwork and resilience.

Keetmanshoop Mayor Her Worship Annelize Knaus congratulated the home team and thanked Bank Windhoek for bringing the tournament to the region. She expressed hope that future editions would return to the south, with support from the municipality and the Kharas Regional Soccer Association.

Namibia international Zenata Coleman also attended the final, offering inspiration to the young athletes.

Organised by Ramblers Sports Club, the tournament aims to identify and nurture future football talent and remains a key platform for empowering youth through sport.