Mighty Gunners, NCS lift NVF Cup titles

Volleyball
Tina Victor
  • 1 Hour Ago

Mighty Gunners and Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) were crowned Bank Windhoek Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) Cup champions after winning their respective finals at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund on Saturday.

The tournament featured 25 teams, with 14 competing in the men’s division and 11 in the women’s division for a share of N$100 000 in prize money.

Mighty Gunners claimed the men’s title after recovering from a set down to defeat Quiver 3-1 in the final, winning 22-25, 27-25, 26-24 and 25-14.

The victory earned Gunners the cup and N$20 000 first prize, while Quiver finished as runners-up to pocket N$15 000.

Unam Kings secured third place after routing Erongo Nampol 3-0 to earn N$10 000.

The men’s competition also featured Afrocat D, QKR Warriors, Modern, Real Cheetah, NamPol Otjozondjupa, Shining Stars, Oranjemund, Hippo, Unam Vipers and Western Riverside.


NCS dominate women’s final

NCS made light work of DTS Invictors in the women’s final, winning 3-0 with set scores of 25-8, 25-10 and 25-18.

The victory earned NCS the women’s title and N$20 000, while DTS finished as runners-up to collect N$15 000.

Coastal Warriors claimed third place after defeating Shining Stars and received N$10 000.

The women’s competition also featured Vixens, NamPol Otjozondjupa, Seagulls Iron Ladies, Eleven Warriors, Greenside, Keetmanshoop and Rural Revive.


Individual awards

Mighty Gunners’ Joseph Kalitheni was named the men’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and also received the Best Opposite award.

Quiver’s Mathias Haingura was named Best Setter, while teammate Matomola Eddy received the Best Libero award.

The Best Attacker awards went to Quiver’s Harold Kalonda and Mighty Gunners’ Kauhwena Matheus, while Mighty Gunners’ Maluku Silas and Quiver’s Israel Henock were named Best Blockers.

In the women’s division, NCS’ Lameesh Harris was named MVP and also received a Best Attacker award alongside Coastal Warriors’ Patricia Uusiku.

NCS’ Emily Kaulinge was named Best Setter, while DTS’s Reiter Claudia received the Best Libero award.

NCS’ Virizian Haimbodi and Coastal Warriors’ Martha Gabriel received the Best Blocker awards, while NCS’ Ligola Mushoko was named Best Opposite.


Cup provides pathway to VNL

With the cup also providing a pathway towards the MTC Volleyball National League (VNL), NVF chief executive officer Festus Hamukwaya clarified that winning the competition does not automatically guarantee promotion.

“The NVF Cup provides a pathway to the National League. However, promotion is subject to the NVF National League regulations and directives thereof,” Hamukwaya said.

“The federation will formally announce the teams that qualify for promotion once the relevant processes have been concluded.”

Hamukwaya said the tournament also allows the federation to assess the standard and competitiveness of volleyball in the country while giving clubs an opportunity to compete for silverware and prize money.

Attention will now turn to the conclusion of the MTC VNL and other national activities for the remainder of the year.

“Our priorities are to conclude the national league, conduct national team activities, strengthen our development programmes and prepare for the Zone Six Club Championships, which Namibia will host in December in Swakopmund,” Hamukwaya said.

“These activities are important as we continue to grow volleyball both domestically and internationally.”

– tina@nma.com.na