Once a thriving club in the 1990s, Bright Stars FC won the Zambezi Regional Second Division Preliminary NFA Cup for the first time after beating Zambezi Sporting Academy FC 2-0. The historic victory secured the club a critical place in the round of 32, where they will compete alongside 13 other regional champions.

The competitive tournament, which took place this past weekend, saw twelve Namport Zambezi Regional Second Division league clubs battle it out across two venues at the Katima Mulilo Sports Complex and the UNAM Stadium. In addition to securing progress in the national cup competition, the winning team walked away with N$20,000 in prize money.

The games highlighted the immense depth of football talent in the region, while also bringing attention to the structural challenges facing local teams. Zambezi Regional Football Association Chairperson, Ngwama Vuyalo, emphasized that while the region possesses highly promising players, there is a critical lack of sponsorship to properly support their long-term development, training, and equipment needs.

"This is a very important tournament because it gives these second division clubs an opportunity to play against premier league teams. We have talent here in the Zambezi Region, and our players are doing well in the premier league. For example, we have the current top goal scorer who started playing here. We need people to come in and support our clubs because training these boys requires resources," Vuyalo explained.

Beyond financial backing for the teams, infrastructure remains a key priority for the growth of football in the area. Vuyalo added that there is a pressing need to upgrade and maintain sports facilities across the region to ensure that local athletes can train and compete in optimal environments going forward.