The 12th annual Taute Cup Sport Tournament wrapped up today in Onamla Village, located in the Okatana Constituency of the Oshana Region. The event brought together football and netball teams from all over the country to compete for the championship trophy.

This year's tournament, which took place from September 12 to 14, featured 32 teams and generated excitement and a sense of unity among the residents of Onamla Village and the surrounding areas.

The competition was held at the newly constructed Severin Kambonde Gabriel Ashivudhi Sport Field, a facility that includes a soccer pitch, netball courts, changing rooms, and a 2,000-seat pavilion. This new venue highlights the community's dedication to improving local sports infrastructure.

Among the notable guests was Ipumbu Herman Ipumbu, the leader of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority. He congratulated the community on making their dream of a sports facility a reality and stressed the importance of preserving the venue for future generations.

In his speech, Ipumbu stated, "This is something built and brought to us through difficulties; it's something deeply thought of. It's wealth that we were given in our community. Even when I came here, I was thinking to myself if this is really Uukwambi, with something of this nature. Things like this we only see in towns."

Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti also attended and officially opened the tournament. His keynote address focused on the importance of youth engagement and developing sports at the grassroots level.

Ballotti praised the new facility, noting, "It gives me great pride that I join you here at this inauguration of this remarkable facility, the Severin Kambonde Gabriel Ashivudhi Sport stadium, that stands as a symbol of pride in the beautiful Okamwandi settlement in the almighty Oshana region, a community project without government funding."

He also expressed his hope that the stadium would help discover new talent. "Now, it is my hope that this stadium can unearth the next Benson Shilongo or the next Kaskas Angula, and they can say that they come from this very stadium in Okatana in the mighty Oshana Region."

Ballotti's speech concluded with a call to action for the community. "Let us not forget that this stadium belongs to you. It is now my plea that I ask you to use it responsibly and to let it be a source of pride for generations to come. As we stand here on this historic day, may this Severin Kambonde Gabriel Ashivudhi Sport stadium foster unity, give birth to the next national team talents, and may it inspire leaders from across our country to replicate and to invest in sporting infrastructure."

The tournament ended with a prize-giving ceremony that honored outstanding players and individuals who performed exceptionally well throughout the event.