In brief
In Windhoek’s Independence Stadium, Chinese businesses staged their first Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament, uniting students from six Namibian colleges. The event featured a Chinese Kung‑Fu performance before a packed match that ended with UNAM’s Sakeus Iita scoring the decisive goal. Officials underscored how sports can open doors to internships, technical training and stronger China‑Namibia ties.
On Sunday, the hallowed grounds of Windhoek’s Independence Stadium buzzed with the chatter of students, coaches and fans as Chinese companies orchestrated the inaugural Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament. Organized by the China Railway Seventh Group Namibia (Pty) Ltd., the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Namibia, the one‑day competition brought together six Namibian institutions: Triumphant College, the International University of Management, UNAM, the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek Vocational Training Center and Gobabis Vocational Training Center.
Before the first kickoff, participants at the stadium witnessed an impressive display of traditional Chinese kung‑fu performed by students from Yuan Jue Private School. Their deft footwork, powerful kicks and engaging sparring routines earned cheers from the players and spectators alike, setting an upbeat tone for the matches that followed.
The tournament’s format ran through a series of group matches that narrowed the field to a final showdown between UNAM and Gobabis. The championship game was tightly contested, with UNAM’s Sakeus Iita striking a single, decisive goal that secured the university’s first trophy. “I feel happy. It’s a good moment,” Iita told Xinhua, expressing pride in his team’s collective effort and gratitude for the sponsorship that the tournament represented.
Beyond the thrill of the match, participants and officials highlighted the broader implications of the event for campus sport and career development. Iita stressed that campus competitions could enhance student skills and serve as stepping‑stones to the country’s Premier League teams, framing football as a viable pathway to professional success.
Speaking before the kickoff, deputy director for school sport development at Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Irvine Ndjavera, said the friendship between Namibia and China was built through infrastructure cooperation but, “through people, through the youth and through sports.” Ndjavera thanked the sponsors, noting that the investment conveyed confidence in Namibia’s young people and their potential.
Khomas Governor Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma also praised the organizers’ commitment to creating opportunities beyond the football pitch. “The tournament’s purpose does not end with a final whistle,” Nujoma said, encouraging the partnership to open doors for engineering and technical students through practical training and structured internships. Nujoma highlighted the “prospect of opportunities away from the pitch,” signalling a broader vision of skill transfer for Namibian students.
China‑Namibia businessmen at the event shared plans for a future annual sporting fixture that would deepen the ties forged on the field and in the trenches of infrastructure projects. They also outlined intentions to foster internship pipelines and undertake technology transfer in engineering disciplines, thereby turning the tournament’s success into lasting educational benefits for Namibia’s youth.
The fusion of sport, cultural exchange and shared economic interests encapsulated in the tournament underscores how Chinese builders are fueling Namibia’s youth football dreams, promising a future where the pitch becomes a launchpad for careers and cross‑border partnership.
