American sport envoys in Namibia

THREE former American footballers will spend the next two weeks spreading the message of good health through the sport in Namibia.

Daryl Schwenk, Angela Hucles and Edward Henderson will reach out to young athletes in Ondangwa, Walvis Bay and Windhoek.The trio are part of the ‘Kicking in Healthy Lifestyles’ programme – one of many outreach programmes run by the US Embassy’s American Cultural Centre . The initiative also uses sport to assist with making life choices that reduce exposure to HIV-AIDS. ‘We are here to encourage healthy living in its various facets through soccer,’ said Schwenk, who previously played the game at college level.Schwenk now is a specialised football coach for students with disabilities.’We are very excited to be here and we hope to spread the message of the benefits that, other than being famous, can come from playing soccer,’ she added.Henderson is a retired professional and used football to escape from a troubled early childhood in his native Seattle, Washington.’I made a living from playing soccer. I could have gone the drug route like most of my brothers too but through football I learned that I could be much more productive,’ he said. The more decorated of the three, Hucles, is only expected to arrive in the country on Sunday.She has been capped 109 times by the American women’s national side between 2002 and 2009 with whom she won Olympic gold in 2004. The visitors will today continue their workshop with Special Olympics at Katutura’s Football for Hope Centre before hosting a Soccer Fun Festival at NFA Soccer House later on.