‘2024 was an abnormal year’ – Hamhola 

Namibia’s coach of the year Letu Hamhola says 2024 was an abnormal year because of the postponement of the African Games, pencilled for Accra, Ghana.

“We had the World Para Athletics Championships set for Japan postponed, the African Championship in Cameroon also rescheduled.”

Speaking to Desert FM recently, Hamhola called on sport leaders to restrategise and plan how the country would go about achieving the necessary results.

“At the end of the day, it was to compete against the best on the continent and to also qualify for the biggest showpiece that we have every four years, to see our athletes compete fiercely against the top-notch athletes in the world.”

The 77 Athletics Club mentor, however, said it was a challenge to strategise.

“I must say it was a pleasure and joy to see our young guys competing at the Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

The coach, who has consecutively clinched the Namibia Sport Award coach of the year award, when reflecting on the Paralympic Games Paris, said it was a challenge to fit everything in.

He stressed the importance of acknowledging the fact that each journey starts with one step, and said it is imperative to have athletes exposed internationally.

“However, we can review and see how we have done at the games. I must say it was a pleasure and we as leaders are now already planning for the 2028 and 2032 games, and to have these athletes exposed is the key,” said Hamhola.

“With the support of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, including Athletics Namibia president Erwin Naimhwaka, we will be able to expose our athletes to regular competitions, such as those in Europe. We want to see our athletes competing in the Diamond League. That is the only way we can have world champions, by having them compete anywhere in the world.”

Hamhola further said it is not an impossible mission, but once the necessary investments are made in athletics, it was good for all to have worked together, especially when the team took part in the African championship.

“We had a good number of coaches at that level and we judge ourselves in terms of the results and how we compare to our fellow countries in the southern region – Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana. That is what we are vying for, but we could see what was accomplished at the events.”

Hamhola is confident of a light at the end of the tunnel, and with the number of athletes that took part in the Tokyo Olympic Games and the transition from the legends who have carried the games and national flag, there is evidence that athletics is in good hands.

He said young athletes can learn from more experienced sportspeople like Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala, and with athletes competing in Europe under the Athletics Development programme and the sports ministry, it was good to have para athletes and able-bodied athletes sharing the same space.

He said they motivated one another, assisting and training together, and eventually that came out strongly when the national anthem was played.

“For athletes to come back home with medals is not just because of me, but behind me there is a team and personnel who make sure that both athletes and coaches are in the best possible frame of mind, including our medical team and other role players, to make it a huge success.

“It is simply about my athletes, but more importantly about the Namibian athletes at different championships. Having a good structure always makes everything possible and easier to attain.”

He believes it is important for Namibia to have a proper structure.

“We must create a conducive environment for our athletes to strive,” he added.