Geingob Cup changes direction
Nam to face Griquas
Rugby enthusiasts are set for another action-packed treat after the Hage Geingob Cup is set for the capital next month.
Tielman van Lill
Windhoek
The Dr Hage Geingob Rugby Cup was launched yesterday at the national rugby stadium in Windhoek, with MTC as the main sponsor, in addition to sponsors Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and Bank Windhoek.
The cup will see the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias take on the Windhoek Draught Griquas on 5 November in the capital. MTC’s sponsorship amounts to N$1.6 million, NBL’s to N$1.5 million and Bank Windhoek is sponsoring N$500 000.
It is the first time in the competition’s history that it will be played between two rugby teams. With soccer having reached a low point in Namibia for the past three years, the organisers decided to give the Welwitschias a boost before the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Amos Shiyuka of the organising committee said: “People asked me why rugby, and I said why not rugby. Namibia has qualified for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) for the seventh consecutive time and deserves to be helped. Rugby’s house is in order.”
Exciting times
Sports minister Agnes Tjongarero added: “It is an honour for me to witness the launch of the Dr Hage Geingob Cup. Exciting times lie ahead with this cup, which was initially started to honour our president with football and now supports the Namibian rugby team.
“I just want to tell the Namibian Rugby Union that you are now on board, and we are going to run together. We are extremely proud that Namibia has once again qualified for the RWC. France, here we come!
“The players recently promised me they will win two games at the RWC and I want to experience that. We are going to show the world what Namibia can do.”
Avid fan
President Geingob’s spokesperson, Dr Alfredo Hengari delivered a message on behalf of the president:
“The president will attend the match on 5 November. He is a keen rugby supporter, and he will not miss the showdown. Fortunately, he is not a supporter of the Griquas team. The president hates it when his team loses, so we have to slaughter them,” he said.
“The Hage Geingob Cup is a reflection of the president’s passion for sport in the country. Sport is about discipline, hard work, health and nation building. The fact that the Geingob Cup takes place in a rugby stadium this year is a reflection of who he is.
“He is as crazy about rugby as he is about football and many other sports, and, of course, tennis.
“The cup is a celebration of our rugby team’s excellence, which will participate in the RWC in France next year. You have qualified several times through hard work, go and win a few games for us.
“I hereby declare the Hage Geingob Cup officially opened.”
Windhoek
The Dr Hage Geingob Rugby Cup was launched yesterday at the national rugby stadium in Windhoek, with MTC as the main sponsor, in addition to sponsors Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and Bank Windhoek.
The cup will see the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias take on the Windhoek Draught Griquas on 5 November in the capital. MTC’s sponsorship amounts to N$1.6 million, NBL’s to N$1.5 million and Bank Windhoek is sponsoring N$500 000.
It is the first time in the competition’s history that it will be played between two rugby teams. With soccer having reached a low point in Namibia for the past three years, the organisers decided to give the Welwitschias a boost before the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Amos Shiyuka of the organising committee said: “People asked me why rugby, and I said why not rugby. Namibia has qualified for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) for the seventh consecutive time and deserves to be helped. Rugby’s house is in order.”
Exciting times
Sports minister Agnes Tjongarero added: “It is an honour for me to witness the launch of the Dr Hage Geingob Cup. Exciting times lie ahead with this cup, which was initially started to honour our president with football and now supports the Namibian rugby team.
“I just want to tell the Namibian Rugby Union that you are now on board, and we are going to run together. We are extremely proud that Namibia has once again qualified for the RWC. France, here we come!
“The players recently promised me they will win two games at the RWC and I want to experience that. We are going to show the world what Namibia can do.”
Avid fan
President Geingob’s spokesperson, Dr Alfredo Hengari delivered a message on behalf of the president:
“The president will attend the match on 5 November. He is a keen rugby supporter, and he will not miss the showdown. Fortunately, he is not a supporter of the Griquas team. The president hates it when his team loses, so we have to slaughter them,” he said.
“The Hage Geingob Cup is a reflection of the president’s passion for sport in the country. Sport is about discipline, hard work, health and nation building. The fact that the Geingob Cup takes place in a rugby stadium this year is a reflection of who he is.
“He is as crazy about rugby as he is about football and many other sports, and, of course, tennis.
“The cup is a celebration of our rugby team’s excellence, which will participate in the RWC in France next year. You have qualified several times through hard work, go and win a few games for us.
“I hereby declare the Hage Geingob Cup officially opened.”
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