In brief
Chinese enterprises organized a football competition bringing students from six Namibian institutions together, featuring a Kung‑Fu display and promising future internships. The event celebrated friendship through sport and outlined plans for ongoing collaboration.
On Sunday, 9 November, Chinese businesses and Namibian student institutions converged at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium for the first Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament, a joint venture organised by the China Railway Seventh Group Namibia (Pty) Ltd., the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Namibia.
Prior to kickoff, students from Yuan Jue Private School entertained attendees with a traditional Chinese Kung‑Fu routine. Their articulate footwork and powerful kicks drew cheers from spectators and set an upbeat tone for the day’s matches.
The tournament assembled teams from six high‑school and university bodies: Triumphant College, the International University of Management, the University of Namibia (UNAM), the Namibia University of Science and Technology, the Windhoek Vocational Training Center and the Gobabis Vocational Training Center.
Competition progressed to a hard‑fought final between UNAM and Gobabis. UNAM’s Sakeus Iita scored a solitary goal, giving the university the trophy. Iita told Xinhua that the win represented a “good moment” and that the event would help cultivate sporting talent for progression to Namibia’s Premier League.
Before the opening whistle, Irvine Ndjavera, deputy director for school sport development at Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, explained that the friendship between Namibia and China is built not only through infrastructure cooperation but “through people, through the youth and through sports.” He thanked the sponsors for their confidence in Namibia’s young people and stated that investment in student sport signals belief in the country’s future.
Khomas Governor Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma also welcomed the tournament’s organisers. He said the commitment to “opening doors for engineering and technical students through practical training and structured internships” extends the tournament’s purpose beyond the final whistle. Nujoma emphasised that the partnership offers opportunities away from the pitch.
Officials highlighted that the day’s event is a gateway to future exchanges. Plans include internships, skill transfer initiatives, and an annual sporting fixture that will span Namibia’s regions, fostering continued collaboration between Chinese enterprises and Namibian educational institutions.
The tournament was positioned as an example of the China–Namibia friendship demonstrated through cooperation in infrastructure, labour, and youth development, reminding participants that sport can be a bridge to wider opportunities.
