Athletes offered money

NAMIBIA’S athletes have been promised financial rewards by the team’s management if they win medals at the All Africa Games, while Namibia’s Chef de Mission, John Walters has called on Namibia’s corporate sector to do the same.

Walters said that the team’s management had decided to reward the athletes after some excellent performances to date. “Our boxers have been fantastic and have put Namibia on the map.To have six boxers in the quarter-finals against the best boxers in Africa is really an exceptional achievement and we decided to offer our athletes financial rewards if they win medals, as an added incentive,” he said.”We still need to decide exactly how much we will offer them, but it will be substantial and we want to call on Namibia’s private sector to do the same, to show their support for our athletes,” he added.Light flyweight Japhet Uutoni, lightweight Julius Indongo, bantamweight Immanuel Naidjala and welterweight Desmond Kasuto all won their first round bouts, while heavyweight Tobias Munihango and flyweight Johannes Simon received first round byes.If Namibia’s athletes receive gold or silver medals they will stand a chance of qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games and according to Walters it will be important to provide financial support for their preparation.Meanwhile, Namibia’s top athletes have started to arrive for the athletics competition which starts today.Long jumper Stefan Louw and triple jumper Rodger Haitengi arrived from Germany on Sunday night, while Agnes Samaria arrived from England on Monday night.”Our boxers have been fantastic and have put Namibia on the map.To have six boxers in the quarter-finals against the best boxers in Africa is really an exceptional achievement and we decided to offer our athletes financial rewards if they win medals, as an added incentive,” he said.”We still need to decide exactly how much we will offer them, but it will be substantial and we want to call on Namibia’s private sector to do the same, to show their support for our athletes,” he added.Light flyweight Japhet Uutoni, lightweight Julius Indongo, bantamweight Immanuel Naidjala and welterweight Desmond Kasuto all won their first round bouts, while heavyweight Tobias Munihango and flyweight Johannes Simon received first round byes.If Namibia’s athletes receive gold or silver medals they will stand a chance of qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games and according to Walters it will be important to provide financial support for their preparation.Meanwhile, Namibia’s top athletes have started to arrive for the athletics competition which starts today.Long jumper Stefan Louw and triple jumper Rodger Haitengi arrived from Germany on Sunday night, while Agnes Samaria arrived from England on Monday night.