Sport Desk
THE pleas from all corners of the country are growing louder that the Hage Geingob Cup must be retained and remain an annual event of unity in sport, in spite of the Hage Geingob Cup tournament of the past weekend being billed as the last.
Late President Geingob, recognizing the importance of the loyal and legendary fan base of African Stars FC and the upcoming underdogs and newcomers with the swinging name of Chula-Chula that gripped the imagination of sports lovers, hosted the first match under huge public interest at the Independence stadium.
The expectation after the final whistle was already for a rematch, but tragedy struck with the death of Dr. Geingob while still in office. He was succeeded by Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, a lifelong friend and comrade. Dr. Mbumba also fittingly officiated Saturday’s commemoration match with First Lady Monica Geingos, both crowd favourites, at his side.
The hope with the inaugural Hage Geingob Cup, when he was already suffering from health challenges was that it might become a permanent feature on the soccer calendar.
The Geingob-widow, Monica Geingos, and the main organiser, Amos Shiyuka, are still being heaped with praise for the past weekend’s well-organised event. The match was attended by thousands of sports enthusiasts, supporters, and admirers of Namibia’s Third President and Chairman of the Constituent Committee, who crafted the Namibian Constitution and laid the foundation for national unity and reconciliation on nearly every level of society, following the legacy of Founding President, Dr. Sam Nujoma.
In a historic moment, a stone’s throw from Heroes’ Acre, where Dr. Geingob found his last resting place, and in the shadows of State House from where he directed government, Chula-Chula won their recent match 2-0, retaining the Cup that was inaugurated by Dr. Geingob at the Independence Stadium before he passed away in February this year.
Thousands of Namibians took to social media to campaign for the continuation of the Hage Geingob Cup tradition, which in the absence of international soccer, became a roaring success that saw approximately 8,000 fans congregating at the Independence Stadium for the match, despite all Namibian political parties organising countrywide rallies in the final stretch of the November elections.
In spite of a roaring crowd, the atmosphere was dignified, with the Kalondo/Mbumba-presence appreciated wherever they moved, while the behaviour and discipline of the Chula-Chula and African Stars were singled out.
The event organiser and lifelong friend of Namibian sports and Dr. Geingob, Amos Shiyuka, is being bombarded on various social media platforms with requests to let the Chula-Chula/African Stars tradition and rivalry live on as a sport highlight of national importance, as well as a fitting memory to Geingob who was universally recognised as Namibia’s number one sports fan.
Geingob, in his wicked sense of humour, once remarked that “boxing should be left to the Wambo’s, soccer to the Damara’s and Herero’s, and rugby to the Boere.”
The Chula-Chula retained cup was handed over by the First Lady, Me. Monica Geingos, with Geingob’s lifelong friend and comrade, Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, at her side.
After the final whistle on this epic match in honour of Namibia’s number one sports fan, it was clear that Namibians are not ready to say farewell to their late President or the Hage Geingob Cup match.
The presence of the majority of young people, a section of the Namibian population, together with the poor and destitute, that held a special place in the late President’s heart, was especially significant, even to the most casual observer.
(Pictures contributed.)
