In brief
In Windhoek on Sunday, Chinese‑sponsored forces staged the inaugural Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament, drawing teams from six academic institutions and ending with a UNAM victory over Gobabis. The event featured a traditional Chinese Kung‑Fu display, and leaders emphasized the cultural, educational and career opportunities that sports can generate. Future plans include internships, skill transfer and an envisioned annual fixture across Namibia.
Chinese enterprises that are active in Namibia organized a one‑day football contest at Independence Stadium in Windhoek on Sunday, bringing student teams from six Namibian institutions together for the first edition of the Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament. The event also began with a display of traditional Chinese Kung‑Fu by students of Yuan Jue Private School, whose footwork, powerful kicks and sparring routines drew cheers from the assembled players and audience.
The tournament, coordinated by the China Railway Seventh Group Namibia (Pty) Ltd., the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Namibia, saw teams from Triumphant College, the International University of Management, the University of Namibia (UNAM), Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek Vocational Training Centre and Gobabis Vocational Training Centre compete for the inaugural trophy. In a hard‑fought final, UNAM faced Gobabis, and Sakeus Iita scored the lone goal that secured the university's win.
Iita said to Xinhua, "I feel happy. It's a good moment," adding that the win was the result of his team's collective effort and that sponsorships could help campus competitions raise student skills and prepare players for Premier League teams.
Prior to kickoff, Irvine Ndjavera, deputy director for school sport development at Namibia's Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, highlighted the broader significance of the partnership. He said, "Friendship between Namibia and China was built through infrastructure cooperation, but also through people, through the youth and through sports." Ndjavera thanked the sponsors, noting that the investment by a Chinese enterprise in Namibian student sport demonstrated confidence in the country's young people and their future.
Khomas Governor Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma welcomed the initiative and underscored its potential beyond the pitch. He told participants that the tournament's purpose "does not end with a final whistle," and encouraged the organisers to open doors for engineering and technical students through practical training and structured internships.
The day of the tournament
Teams from the six institutions roamed the field in a showcase of local talent, while the crowd cheered each goal and tackled a display of cultural exchange. The match organizers and sponsors have discussed plans to institutionalise the event, with a vision for a nationwide annual sporting fixture that integrates skill transfer and internship opportunities for Namibian students. Official statements indicate hopes for continued support from Chinese enterprises, but no formal timetable has yet been released for a repeated tournament or the specific internships that will be offered.
While the tournament was framed as a symbol of mutual friendship and developmental prospects, the ultimate impact of these efforts on students' careers and on long‑term bilateral relations has not yet been measured. The sources acknowledge the promise of the programme, but leave unanswered how the opportunities will translate into concrete benefits for the universities, students and the Namibian sports sector.
