Athletes’ State House reception off after debacle, Pohamba orders probe

TWO Namibian medal winners at the Commonwealth Games will have to wait for their customary prizes from Government, after President Hifikepunye Pohamba ordered an investigation into the controversy about some members of the team who allegedly stole items at a their village in Melbourne, Australia, before returning to Namibia.

Namibian light flyweight boxer Jafet Uutoni and pistol shooter Friedhelm Sack, who won gold and bronze at the Games respectively, were set to be rewarded for their achievements by Pohamba at a reception at State House, but this has been called off after The Namibian reported on the scandal. Pohamba requested the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, to give him a briefing on what had happened in Australia.Sources told The Namibian this week that some members of the boxing team stole some linen, towels and bathroom shelves from the chalets at which they were staying.It is claimed that some of the members of the boxing team also emptied shower-gel and shampoo dispensers into their water bottles on the day of their departure.The source also claimed that the boxing team pleaded poverty when they were invited to a farm, while some were selling their Namibian T-shirts for exorbitant prices of up to 500 Australian dollars.Boxing team manager Ambrosius Kandjii admitted that the boxers took some items, but said they were “taken by mistake” and everything was returned.He denied that any boxers had begged for money, and maintained that some members of the team had swapped their T-shirts for other items instead of selling them.The administrators who headed the team are expected to compile a report, which they will submit to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC).Pohamba requested the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, to give him a briefing on what had happened in Australia.Sources told The Namibian this week that some members of the boxing team stole some linen, towels and bathroom shelves from the chalets at which they were staying.It is claimed that some of the members of the boxing team also emptied shower-gel and shampoo dispensers into their water bottles on the day of their departure.The source also claimed that the boxing team pleaded poverty when they were invited to a farm, while some were selling their Namibian T-shirts for exorbitant prices of up to 500 Australian dollars.Boxing team manager Ambrosius Kandjii admitted that the boxers took some items, but said they were “taken by mistake” and everything was returned.He denied that any boxers had begged for money, and maintained that some members of the team had swapped their T-shirts for other items instead of selling them.The administrators who headed the team are expected to compile a report, which they will submit to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC).