Namibia have been announced as the 2016 hosts for the COSAFA Castle Cup which was launched in Windhoek on Tuesday night.
As the defending champions, having won the tournament in South Africa this year, the Brave Warriors have been given the nod to defend their trophy at home.
During the launch, it was also announced that Castle Lager returns to become the title sponsor of the regional tournament and will sponsor the event for the next five years.
The tournament is scheduled to be staged from May 15-29 next year and be hosted at two venues in Windhoek, the Sam Nujoma Stadium and the Independence Stadium.
Speaking at the event, NFA Secretary General Barry Rukoro said the entire country is delighted to host the Cosafa Castle Cup for the first time in its history and has promised a spectacle for fans.
“The Namibia Football Association is proud to host the COSAFA family here in our uniquely beautiful country next May,” Rukoro told the NFA website.
“The visiting teams will be welcomed and hosted with the highest degree of hospitality, and we feel certain they will have a great time and enjoy their participation in the tournament.
“As defending champions we are looking forward to embarking on a new and fresh challenge – that of winning our second regional championship and maintaining the growth that we have realised in the last few years.
“We know that the Namibian football family, led by our patron, His Excellency, the President of Namibia, Dr Hage Geingob, will support the competition wholeheartedly.”
Ricardo Mannetti’s men became the fifth country to lift the Cup when they defeated Mozambique 2-0 in the final of the 2015 competition that was staged in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Meanwhile, Zambia and Zimbabwe have each won the competition on four previous occasions, with South Africa and Angola claiming three wins each.
Source: pilot