By; Mupiri Matthias
Oshakati, June 19 – This past weekend, the northern town of Oshakati hosted the opening round of the 2023 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off tournament. A total of 61 competitors entered the contest in an effort to advance towards the finals in August where they would have the opportunity to win the top prize.
A food truck valued at N$100,000 and a N$10,000 cash prize, courtesy of Nedbank Namibia.
Some competitors wowed the judges with their flawless dish preparation during the competition as well as presentation.
The Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off Competition has been running for nine years and still draws people from all areas of life. This year’s tournament was entered by sight challenged businesswoman Jacobina Samuel, who encouraged bystanders by doing so.
When Samuel and her assistant finished the round within the allotted time, they left a lasting impression on the audience while preparing a salsa dish. When asked why she decided to compete in the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off Competition, she explained that she wanted to take the chance to encourage others to follow their dreams regardless of their circumstances.
“I had a restaurant in Ondangwa, but it closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and ever since then, I’ve been trying to get back on my feet, ” she said.
“My main motivation for competing is to raise awareness among the general public and convey to them the message that, despite any impairments you may have, you should never let your circumstances prevent you from pursuing your interests”, she added.
Gernot de Klerk, Head of Marketing and Communications for Nedbank Namibia, stated that the event represented one of the biggest and most well-attended Nedbank Kapana events since it began almost ten years ago.
“It is fantastic to see new and returning faces participating in this competition after an amazing day of celebrations during the first preliminary round. Moments like this demonstrate the importance the competition has in the neighborhood, especially in light of the over 60 contestants who showed up”, de Klerk said.
Nedbank Namibia is pleased to be one of the main organizations supporting the growth of SMEs through programs like these, and we will keep up our support for many years to come. We anticipate nothing less than what we saw in the Oshakati for our upcoming preliminary round in Walvis Bay. The youngest-ever competitor from Walvis Bay last year, who was only 17 years old, competed and made it to the final.
Winners from the northern preliminary round, including Johannes Haulondjamba, Loise Iimvula, and Cleopatra Shipanga, will compete in the final in August.
The following preliminary round will be held on Saturday, July 8 in Walvis Bay, while the central preliminary round will be held on Saturday, August 5 in Windhoek. The competition is now accepting entries, and entry forms can be downloaded from http://www.nedbank.com.na or picked up in person at any Nedbank Namibia office located throughout the country.
Bakpro, Agra, and Omulunga Radio have all joined forces to co-sponsor the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off. ~Namibia Daily News
