| Otis Finck: Fortune and fame beckons for any of the minnows from Namibia's lower soccer divisions (1st and 2nd) that might make it to the quarter final round of Namibia's most lucrative soccer cup competition, the annually contested 2010 LEO NFA Cup. The Erongo region will be well represented with Eleven Arrows, Blue Waters and the regional winner from the Second Division (still to be determined on 1 February in Kuisebmond) set to carry the coastal flag and the aspirations of their fans at this year's LEO NFA Cup competition. The prizemoney for the entire 2010 competition amounts to more than N$1 million, while the total sponsorship will amount to about N$3 million to cover for teams' playing gear, prize giveaways, sta-dium branding, ad-ministration, broad-casting, final match event as well as pro-motion and advertising,. The spon-sorship is in its second year of a three-year penned deal between Leo and the NFA. The winner of the 2010 Leo NFA Cup will receive N$600 000, an increase of N$100 000 on this year's competition. The prize-money for the runner up has also been in-creased from N$200 000 to N$250 000, while the losing semi-finalists will each receive N$100 000. The Cup also sees an increase in prize monies for individual prizes with the Golden Boot winner to receive a whopping N$25 000. The shifting process kicked off in all 13 regions of the country with the elimination rounds for the Second and First Divisions played on 23 and 24 January. About 200 clubs throughout Namibia are involved in the preliminary stages. After the preliminary rounds defending champions Orlando Pirates and the rest of the Namibian Premier League sides will be joined on the weekends of February 21 and 28 for the first round by thirty other clubs that quali-fied from their various regions and leagues. Orlando Pirates defeated Eleven Arrows 1-0 in last year's final and clinched the inaugural edition of the competition. The 2009 NFA cup losing finalist Eleven Arrows definitely has a huge score to settle. Lucky Shipanga's Blue Waters will be out to prove that their current league form is no fluke. The competition is also a life-line for Second Division soccer teams which had been in limbo since the conclusion of the 2008-/2009 season. Newly promoted Erongo Se-cond Division outfit Western Spurs (re-presenting the hopes and aspiration of soccer fans and players from Narraville) will battle the seasoned Young Eleven (at Kuisebmond Stadium 17:00). Swakopmund United will be up against Sailors in the second sem-final for 2nd Division teams at the Tamariskia Stadium in Swakopmund 15:00 on 31 January. The Erongo Region final for 2nd Division teams will be played on 1 February at the Kuisebmond Stadium (13:00). Western Spurs defeated Zula Molest 5-0 and Dune Seven 4-2. Young Eleven defeated Buffalos 2-0 and Celtic 5-4. Swakopmund United defeated Tuta Eagles 4-0 and United Stars 2-1. Sailors de-feated B.Y Stars 3-2 and North Stars 2-1 in matches played on the weekend of 23 and 24 January. Coastal based First Division contenders Swakopmund Football Club, Blue Boys and Desert Boys are also in with a chance as they could book their places in the next round after the elimination round (to be played in Windhoek from 30 to 31 January) for teams competing in the Southern Stream First Division. The winner and runner up advance to the competition proper. Blue Boys will battle Monitronic College. Swakopmund FC will be up against Zambezi United and Desert Boys (from Walvis Bay) will take on Tura Magic.
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