The 2007 Inline Hockey season gets ‘back to business’ coming weekend when an expected 29 teams line up for the Swakopmund Superspar Business League Tournament at the SFC grounds in Swakopmund.
Well known as an exciting curtain raiser for the nationwide NIIHA League, the tournament runs from 9th – 11th February. This is your chance to check out this year’s inline talent when 56 games in eight age divisions are played back to back, from early morning to late at night.
The fund-raising event, which runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime, brings together teams sponsored by businesses in Swakopmund, Windhoek and Otjiwarongo. They play under their sponsors’ banners, but team names are meant to raise a smile: under fun banners like “Prima Keulen”, “Oranje-Hoewe”, “Strike Force”, “Piranhas”, “White Hawks”,  “Cherries” and “Thirdway Killers”.
Staunch supporters of the tournament for years are back again with powerful line-ups: “Wine Cellars”, “Alternative Space”, “Desert Dogs”, “Team Jeep”,  “Seawork” and “Hill’s Pets” are just some of the teams in contention. Newcomers to the competition – such as “Zur Weinmaus”, “Dunlop” and “Transworld Cargo” – will also be joining the fray.
There should be riveting action in the Men’s Open division where six teams will battle it out. Most of these players belong to the Namibian National squad, which are hard at training to prepare for the 2007 World Inline Hockey Championships in Germany in May. All are in top form, high spirits and ready to show what they are made of.
A series of eight ‘finals’ to sort out the honours in each age division are scheduled for Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, spectators can cool off in the tournament tent, which will be open for drinks and refreshments throughout the weekend
The Swakopmund Superspar Business League is a fun-oriented version of NIIHA’s national league which starts in earnest mid Marchl. The first in a series of five tournaments will take place from 16th March at the ‘Badgers’ at the Windhoek Showgrounds.