Team Namibia General Manager Robert Williams said the team has been training for the past week and the athletes are ready to take on their southern African opponents.

The programme will kick off on Friday at the Kuisebmond Stadium, and will be opened by the Deputy Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Pohamba Shifeta.

The Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) National Co-ordinator, Solly Duiker, said the opening match will be the Namibia football team taking on Swaziland at 11h00 at the Kuisebmond Stadium.

The COSSASA Ball Games will feature netball (women), football (both sexes), volleyball (both sexes) and basketball (both sexes).

A total of 91 athletes will compete, said Williams.

Entrance is free of charge.

Duiker added that four countries will take part in the event - Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland.

Swaziland will only compete in men's football and netball.

The other countries will take part in all the sports.

Lesotho withdrew from the event citing financial constraints, and Zambia could not take part because of the death of President Levy Mwanawasa last week.

The only event not taking place at the Kuisebmond Stadium is volleyball, which will take place at the Indoor Centre.

The event concludes on Saturday, when the winning teams will be presented with medals.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Sport, Willem Konjore, the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr Peingondjabi Shipoh, said the ball games are essential in the development of young sportsmen and women.

He added that the games provide athletes with the opportunity to match their skills against the best in southern Africa, and to assess what must be done to reach their optimum potential on their journey to becoming Olympians.

He said the event co-hosted by the NSSU presented a wonderful opportunity for unity, friendship and for Namibians to showcase their rich culture.

In 2007, Namibia came third overall.

The 2008 Ball Games conclude on Saturday, and foreign teams will return to their countries on Sunday.

Nampa

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