In brief
On November 9, Chinese enterprises organized Namibia’s first Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament at the Independence Stadium, where students from six institutions played a match that ended 1‑0 for UNAM. The event combined football with a Chinese Kung‑Fu display and highlighted future plans for internships, skill‑transfer and an annual sporting fixture across Namibia.
At the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on Sunday, a one‑day football tournament organized by Chinese companies turned a regular sport event into a showcase for future opportunities for Namibian students. The Khomas inter‑tertiary solidarity football tournament was brought together by the China Railway Seventh Group Namibia (Pty) Ltd., the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia, and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Namibia.
Before the match, students from Yuan Jue Private School performed a traditional Chinese Kung‑Fu routine, drawing cheers from the football crowd and setting an upbeat tone for the competition.
Teams from Triumphant College, the International University of Management, the University of Namibia (UNAM), the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek Vocational Training Center and Gobabis Vocational Training Center battled on the pitch. A hard‑fought final saw UNAM defeat Gobabis 1‑0, with Sakeus Iita scoring the only goal. After the game, Iita told Xinhua a simple message: “I feel happy. It’s a good moment.” He said the win was a result of collective effort and appreciated the sponsorship because it could help students move toward professional leagues.
Friendship between Namibia and China was built through infrastructure cooperation, but also “through people, through the youth and through sports.”
The statement came from Irvine Ndjavera, deputy director for school sport development at Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture. He added that Chinese investment in student sport showed confidence in the nation's young people and their future.
The tournament’s purpose “does not end with a final whistle.”
Khomas Governor Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma agreed, noting that the event opens doors for engineering and technical students through practical training and structured internships. He said the partnership could lead to long‑term skill transfer beyond the football field.
Beyond the final whistle, the organizers outlined a vision of an annual sporting fixture across Namibia and concrete plans for internships and training pathways for students in technical and engineering fields. The tournament set a template for how sports can illuminate new career prospects while strengthening friendship between Namibia and China.
