Otjiwarongo to host battle for top-flight places
The Bank Windhoek Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) Cup begins this weekend in Otjiwarongo, with 25 teams from across the NVF’s regional associations battling it out at C’est si Bon Courts for a shot at qualifying for the country’s top-flight volleyball league.
The field comprises 14 men’s sides and 11 women’s sides, who will take to the court this Saturday and Sunday for the group-stage matches. The knockout stage will be held next month in Swakopmund, where the Cup champions will be crowned.
The annual event, which marks its 18th edition, serves as a qualifier for the top-tier MTC Volleyball National League (VNL), with the NVF Cup champions and runners-up in each section advancing.
At last season’s 17th edition held in Windhoek, local sides NamPower in the men’s section and Afrocat Ladies in the women’s section advanced after placing first and second, respectively.
The four-team field was completed by Rundu sides Brutal Pact and Blaze Aces.
Afrocat Ladies have struggled with the intensity of the MTC VNL and will return to their Central Volleyball Association regional league next season alongside men’s outfit Afrocat C.
Women’s side Six Stars from Ondangwa have also been relegated from the MTC VNL and will return to the Far North Volleyball Association league.
Relegation battle
The final place in the MTC VNL men’s drop zone will be occupied by either Unam Hard Hitters, on nine points, or Calvary Eagles, on 10, with the seventh and final round of the top-flight competition remaining next month in the capital.
Hard Hitters are currently staring down relegation in seventh place and will need a strong finish from their remaining two matches, one of which takes them up against second-placed NDF Raptors.
A win would allow Hard Hitters to leapfrog Eagles should the latter fail to win their final match of the season.
This year’s 18th Bank Windhoek NVF Cup sees the return of some familiar VNL faces, with Mighty Gunners and Keetmanshoop in the men’s division aiming to make amends for last season’s shortcomings and return to top-flight competition.
In the women’s division, only NamPol Otjozondjupa are seeking a return to the VNL, while also chasing a share of the N$100 000 prize purse sponsored by Bank Windhoek.
Ball Busters were the other women’s outfit that endured a difficult season in the 2025 MTC VNL. They narrowly missed qualification for the 18th Bank Windhoek NVF Cup after finishing third in the Zambezi Volleyball Association.
Men’s draw
Otjiwarongo’s C’est si Bon Courts will host the men’s four group stages and quarter-finals over two days, while the women’s two groups will contest only their group-stage matches before the knockout stage next month.
Men’s Group A features local side Mighty Gunners alongside Hippo of Katima Mulilo and Windhoek’s Unam Kings. Group B has local side NamPol Otjozondjupa alongside Erongo NamPol of Walvis Bay and Quiver of Keetmanshoop.
Groups C and D feature four teams apiece to accommodate the 14-team field. Group C comprises Real Cheetah of Katima Mulilo, Afrocat D of Windhoek, Western River of Nkurenkuru and Shining Stars of Rundu.
Group D comprises Modern of Ongwediva, Oranjemund, QKR Warriors of Karibib and Unam Vipers of Rundu.
Women’s draw
In the women’s draw, the first pool comprises NamPol Otjozondjupa, Seagulls Iron Ladies of Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Shining Stars and Windhoek’s DTS Invictors.
The second pool comprises Eleven Arrows of Grootfontein, Green Side of Eenhana, Namibian Correctional Service of Windhoek, Coastal Warriors of Swakopmund, Vixens of Katima Mulilo and Rural Revival of Maltahöhe.
Central North Volleyball Association chairperson Joseph Hamunyela confirmed that preparations for the event are progressing well, with his team now in the final stretch of getting the venue ready.
“The remaining work includes marking the volleyball courts and setting up the competition and technical areas. We will also arrange the spectator and team zones, and complete final equipment checks,” he said.
Ready for first serve
Hamunyela noted that while preparations are still ongoing, everything will be in place before the first serve. He said spectators can expect a weekend of competitive, high-quality volleyball.
“For us as hosts, it is also an opportunity to showcase Otjiwarongo as a volleyball-loving community. We will give local supporters a chance to see some of the best teams competing at a high level,” he said.
He further called on the public to come out and rally behind the local sides competing.
NVF second vice-president Julia Gideon-/Ais said the tournament has grown over the years and matured administratively with the incorporation of the Volleyball Information System (VIS).
Despite all eight NVF associations being represented at the Bank Windhoek NVF Cup, she pointed out that financial constraints remain a challenge and have prevented a full 32-team field from competing for places in the MTC VNL.
