Namib War IV gave thrilling combat display
The Ring Contact Fight Arts Namibia (RCFA) national team dominated the action at the Wanderers Sports Grounds in Windhoek when it hosted the recent Namib War IV across multiple War Zones.
The Namibians secured a total of 427 medals, but more crucially, earned qualification for the Africa Championships.
Building on their third consecutive overall victory at the RCFA World Championship in South Africa earlier this year, the host team showcased solid depth across semi-contact, full contact, Millennium, and weapons divisions.
Facing tough opposition from 13 clubs representing Namibia, South Africa, and the United States, Namibian fighters accumulated 4,590 points to secure a convincing home-soil victory.
South Africa finished second in the international standings with 100 medals (51 gold, 33 silver, 16 bronze) and 1,035 points, while the United States delegation from Ocala RCFA claimed a single gold medal for 10 points.
Overall country medal table
Namibia: 186 gold | 161 silver | 80 bronze | Total: 427 medals (4,590 points)
South Africa: 51 gold | 33 silver | 16 bronze | Total: 100 medals (1,035 points)
USA: 1 gold | Total: 1 medal (10 points)
CLUB STANDINGS and top performers
Local clubs led the top of the standings, with RCFAI Windhoek taking the club title with 92 gold medals and 1,982 points. RCFAI Rehoboth finished second with 952 points, while the RCFA South Africa Presidential Team came in third overall.
1 RCFAI Windhoek (NAM): 92 Gold | 61 Silver | 29 Bronze (1,982 points)
2 RCFAI Rehoboth (NAM): 39 Gold | 34 Silver | 21 Bronze (952 points)
3 RCFA SA Presidential Team (RSA): 40 Gold | 25 Silver | 7 Bronze (727 points)
4 RCFAI Otjiwarongo (NAM): 23 Gold | 21 Silver | 10 Bronze (594 points)
5 RCFAI Mariental (NAM):11 Gold | 15 Silver | 11 Bronze (430 points)
TOP INDIVIDUALS
In the individual rankings, Jozua Kunert of RCFAI Otjiwarongo emerged as the top-ranked male athlete, scoring 96 points with seven gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
He was closely followed by RCFAI Windhoek's Hermanus Bergh (92 points) and Carlo du Plessis (91 points).
RCFAI Windhoek's Karien du Plessis was the most successful competitor by gold medal count, winning nine golds. Libbie Te Baerts (Radja) of the South African Presidential Team was the top foreign athlete, finishing fifth overall with 85 points.
MAIN CARD BOUTS
Under the direction of tournament director Sensei Adél Oosthuizen, Saturday afternoon's main event featured 11 international test bouts between Namibia's National and Development Teams and South Africa's Presidential and Development Teams.
The early bouts set the pace, with Jozua Kunert (Junior U/9 Close Combat), Carlo du Plessis (Junior U/15 High Kicks), and Hermanus Bergh (Junior U/17 Close Combat) earning wins for Namibia.
Senior competitors took to the ring. Namibia's Zandrino Gariseb earned a win in the Supreme Fighting Artist U/70 kg division against South Africa's Jaco Prinsloo.
In an all-Namibian matchup, Cherné Scheepers defeated Patricia Paulus in the SC High Kicks U/55 kg class. South Africa replied with full contact wins from Verischke Lubbe, Hennie Nel, and an 8-round SA Full Contact Sport Boxing Title win for Damian Vosloo over Jacques Olivier.
Bout 1 (SC Close Combat, Junior U/9, U/35 kg): Jozua Kunert (NAM Dev) beat Lohan Pieterse (RSA).
Bout 2 (SC Supreme Fighting Artist, Female Junior U/12, U/50 kg): Selmay Taylor (RSA) beat Mila Celliers (NAM).
Bout 3 (SC High Kicks, Junior U/15, U/65 kg): Carlo du Plessis (NAM) beat Rudolph Botha (RSA).
Bout 4 (Millennium Exhibition, Female, U/60 kg): Jodie Wessels (RSA) beat Lara-Lee du Preez (NAM).
Bout 5 (SC Close Combat, Junior U/17, U/80 kg): Hermanus Bergh (NAM) beat Alroux Wiggill (RSA).
Bout 6 (SC Low Kicks, Female Senior, U/70 kg): Verischke Lubbe (RSA) beat Leane Gabrielson (NAM).
Bout 7 (SC Supreme Fighting Artist, Senior, U/70 kg): Zandrino Gariseb (NAM) beat Jaco Prinsloo (RSA).
Bout 8 (SC High Kicks, Female Senior, U/55 kg): Cherné Scheepers (NAM) beat Patricia Paulus (NAM).
Bout 9 (FC High Kicks, Senior, U/69 kg Super Lightweight): Hennie Nel (RSA) beat Nico Rust (NAM).
Bout 10 (FC High Kicks, Junior U/17, U/72 kg Welterweight): Aldo du Plessis (NAM) beat Johan Scheepers (RSA).
Bout 11 (SA Full Contact Sport Boxing Title, U/81 kg Super Middleweight): Damian Vosloo (RSA Dev) beat Jacques Olivier (RSA Presidential).
National RCFA president Sensei Adél Oosthuizen commended the martial artists on their discipline. “Namib War IV was our field of dreams, where dedication, discipline and sportsmanship took centre stage. Competitors were encouraged to win in good spirit and lose in even better spirit.”
