The third edition of the Pangolin Tournament this past weekend at #Ama Village, about 65 kilometres from Tsumkwe, with Ben United defeating Block Ways 1-0 in the final to claim the prestigious title.
The tournament was organised to give back to the local community while raising vital awareness about the protection of pangolins and broader biodiversity conservation in the area. The Executive Director of the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation highlighted the significance of using sports as a tool for environmental advocacy. Prediger emphasized that engaging local communities and showing appreciation for their ongoing protection and conservation efforts is incredibly important. She noted that the overarching goal of the initiative is to unite everyone for fun and sport, all in the name of conservation and long-term sustainability.
A total of 17 teams participated in the competition, with action unfolding across two soccer fields in an intense round-robin format. Dominating their respective groups, Ben United and Block Ways advanced to the final, setting up a thrilling rematch of their recent encounter at the Nyae Nyae Tournament.
The final was decided by a clinical first-half goal, which proved sufficient for Ben United to secure a 1-0 victory and be crowned champions. The result marks Ben United's second consecutive final victory over their rivals.
Although there was no direct cash prize on offer, community members widely welcomed the tournament for promoting sport, unity, and environmental awareness. To support grassroots football, all participating teams were provided with soccer balls, playing kits, and food parcels for the duration of the weekend, while the top three teams walked away with trophies.
Coaches and players from both finalist teams shared their post-match reflections on a successful tournament. Xa||a G|uxa expressed immense joy and pride in his squad, stating that a coach's role is to constantly push players to work hard during training. He credited the championship victory as a direct reflection of the team's sheer dedication and effort.Cwi admitted that while losing two consecutive finals to the same opponent is disappointing, he remains incredibly proud of his players for keeping the team's reputation high. He vowed that the squad would return to the training pitch to work harder and prepare better for future competitions.#Ao Rudolf added that finishing in second place is still a major achievement for the club. He expressed satisfaction with the team's overall performance, noting that they simply need to return to training, intensify their hard work, and continue improving ahead of the next tournament.