Debmarine Cup final treat in store

THE first Debmarine Namibia Cup final between Mighty Gunners and Young African will be a spectacle to behold, NFA secretary general Barry Rukoro promised.

Neither side in the title decider are household names, but that will not diminish the quality nor entertainment value that will be on display at the Legare Stadium at Gobabis on Saturday.

“The organising committee and the two teams will go all out to make sure we have a terrific cup final,” Rukoro said during the final match kit unveiling ceremony in Windhoek on Monday.

That much is what Debmarine Namibia expected when agreeing the three-year N$14,1 million deal of the FA Cup, chief executive officer Otto Shikongo said.

“There won’t be one winner. Both teams in the final are already winners by reaching the final. They made it to the final out of 267 teams. We expect the players to play with sportsmanship, and give their best,” said Shikongo.

He added that the winner of the Women’s Super Cup final between Tura Magic Ladies and Khomas Nampol, which is the curtain-raiser to the FA Cup final, will receive double the prize money.

The winning prize for the Women’s Cup, which started in Windhoek over the weekend after women’s football general manager Jacqui Shipanga scraped together handouts valued at just in excess of N$60 000, was initially set at a meagre N$20 000.

In contrast, the Debmarine Namibia Cup winner stands to bank over N$600 000, a sum which includes preparatory incentives since their first match.

“I’m just pleasantly surprised that you decided to assist the women’s game in this manner. It’s something we hope will encourage other potential investors to follow. It is still difficult to motivate corporates to invest in women’s football,” Rukoro said.

“It’s the job of the football association to look for investors, but once we have managed to secure their signature, it becomes the responsibility of all of us to keep them here.”

Gunners and African will each receive N$30 000 towards travel and preparations, while the man of the match will get N$5 000, the same amount as a charity of their choice.

Tickets are available at NFA Football House and through Computicket at Shoprite and Checkers stores countrywide for N$20 each.