Sasa Boys Football Club from Walvis Bay won the tenth edition of the IUM Vice-Chancellor Annual Cup after defeating Desert Stars 1-0 in a closely contested final held over the weekend in Walvis Bay.
The milestone tenth edition of the International University of Management Vice-Chancellor Cup brought together football teams from various coastal towns. Players fiercely competed for the top position in a tournament explicitly aimed at promoting sport, youth development, and community engagement across the coastal region.
On the pitch, the high level of competition provided a critical platform for both emerging and experienced talent. Sasa Boys team captain, Frans Romanus, expressed his satisfaction with the tournament's standard and its ability to bridge generational talent. "This tournament brought together many young players and former players who have experience in these competitions. It was a good event," Romanus said.
Sasa Boys coach Festus Iipinge praised his player's commitment throughout their challenging campaign and used the victory to encourage more local youth to dedicate themselves to the game. "It was difficult at first. We drew 1-1 and won on penalties. Today we scored four goals before winning the final 1-0. I encourage young people to take part in these events to gain experience and help grow Namibian football," Iipinge explained.
Despite falling just short of the title, the runners-up maintained a strong sense of pride in their performance. Desert Stars captain, Christian Gamaseb, thanked his squad for their efforts on the field. "I thank my teammates. We played well, but in football, only one team can win. Next time, we will be stronger," Gamaseb noted. His coach, Max Risan, pointed to physical exhaustion as a deciding factor but remained optimistic about the future. "The team played well throughout the tournament. Maybe some players lost energy during the final, but we will come back stronger next year," Risan added.
The tournament also emphasized the university's broader social mission. IUM Coastal Campus Director, Martha Ndeyatila Aimwata, highlighted that the Cup is a permanent fixture on the university's annual calendar, designed to foster wellness and institutional unity.
"We aim to bring young people together. Sport promotes unity among students, academics, and the community. Teams from Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and nearby towns participated. The Vice-Chancellor Cup promotes healthy competition, wellness, and community engagement," Aimwata remarked, underscoring IUM's ongoing commitment to youth development and sports promotion across Namibia.
With the tenth edition now concluded, organizers confirmed they are already looking forward to next year's tournament, with the focus remaining on utilizing sport to unite coastal communities and empower the youth.