Exciting finals at the Champion Super 4 in Swakopmund
The Champion Super 4 football tournament took over Vineta Stadium in Swakopmund this past weekend, and it was a weekend full of energy, drama, and some seriously impressive football. Young players from all over the region came together to compete in the U/13, U/15, and U/17 divisions, and the matches were as competitive as you’d expect.
In the U/17 final, Atheltic Football Club Academy (ACFA) showed why they’re one of the top teams, pulling off a hard-fought 2-1 win over Swakopmund FC (SFC). The game had its tense moments, but ACFA managed to hold their nerves and take home the trophy. Over in the third-place match, Riverheights faced Genesis FC, and after a thrilling 90 minutes, it came down to penalties. Riverheights held their composure to win and take third place. Both Riverheights and Genesis received hampers, thanks to Bokomo/Champion, for their efforts.
ACFA wasn’t done yet, though. In the U/15 final, they made a strong statement, beating SKW 3-0 in what was a commanding performance. SKW had no answer for ACFA’s speed and precision. Meanwhile, in the U/13 final, SKW held on for a narrow 1-0 win over ACFA to take first place, with ACFA finishing in second. SFC finished third, rounding out the top three. SKW’s first-place finish came with a N$ 10,000 cash prize, ACFA walked away with an N$ 5,000 sports voucher, and SFC picked up hampers for their efforts.
After the final, ACFA’s under-17 coach, Ricky Averia, was clearly proud of his team. “The win is down to the boys’ hard work,” he said. “SFC is a tough team, but we showed resilience and stuck to our game plan. It’s not over—we’re going to keep pushing ourselves to be better.”
For SKW’s Simon Ziga, who played in the U/13 final, it was a tough loss, but he was already looking forward to the next challenge. “We didn’t start well, and that early goal hurt us,” he said. “But we know we can come back from this. SKW is a strong club, and we’ll be ready next time.”
The weekend was a huge success for everyone involved. There was some fantastic football, plenty of heart, and the players really showed what they’re made of. This tournament really proved that Namibian youth football is on the rise, and it’s exciting to think about what’s next.
Isai Sipunga
