AN underfunded Swallows Football Club won four medals at the SFC Youth Tournament in Swakopmund over the weekend, but due to diminishing sponsorship, this could be their last participation at the tournament.

Swallows won three silver medals in the under 9, u15 and u17 categories and a bronze medal in the u13 category, but club chairman Hermanus Naobeb said they struggled financially and will have to end their participation if things don't change.

“We asked each parent to contribute N$600, but less than half paid, while some only paid half the amount.

“We struggled financially and some of our coaches had to take out overdrafts to cover our trip. So we have decided that if we don't reach a certain amount at a fixed date next year, then we won't go on the tour,” he said.

“We will ask our parents to start saving up now already for next year by depositing a bit of money each month,” he added.

Hermanus said he had approached several companies and individuals, but except for Oasis First Aid, he didn't receive any support.

“I don't know why private companies don't sponsor these boys - there are some excellent players out there. One kid's father paid for one of our under 11 players, whose an orphan, Samuel Amseb, - he is a great talent,” he said.

Swallows reached the u17 final after winning their group matches 2-0 against SKW and 1-0 against Delta, and then beating Teenagers from Walvis Bay 2-0 in the semifinals.

In the final they came up against a powerful Swakopmund Football Club side that had two national players in their squad in Godwin Awaseb and Lubeni Haukongo, while Swallows' national representatives were PitsI Amseb, Immanuel Hamuyela,Denzil Narib and Dean Stefano.

In a tough match of few chances, Awaseb scored the winner for SFC after 11 minutes, with a great shot from the edge of the box.

The u15 final against Young United from Walvis Bay also delivered top class football, with Young United winning the match 3-1.

Swallows took an early lead when Murphy Naobeb headed in a cross by John Paul Beukes, but Young United soon equalised through Prince Tjiueza.

Tjiueza, who was the player of the tournament at the Scorpion Zinc Cup a fortnight ago, scored a second goal after the break as did Steven Damaseb to give Young United a 3-1 victory.

The tournament has been growing steadily and took place for the tenth year last weekend. About 70 teams from the coast, Windhoek and Otjiwarongo took part as did a South African club side from Pretoria.

The other category winners were SKW (u7 and u13), Atlantic Football Academy (u9) and Ramblers (u11).