Athletics Namibia saga goes regional

THE ongoing squabbles between Athletics Namibia (AN) and the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) have been discussed at the Confederation of African Athletics’ (CAA) regional level to find a lasting solution.

According to Alpha Kangueehi, who still claims the AN presidency after failing to get elected late last year in an elective congress held at Katima Mulilo, the matter has been discussed at the CAA Southern Africa Council meeting held from January 30 to 31 in Johannesburg, South Africa.All members of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region except Madagascar were present at the meeting, he said.Kangueehi told Nampa on Tuesday that a resolution to acknowledge his leadership as AN president had been taken by the Council, and that a letter on the position of the CAA Southern Africa Council will be sent to the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture, Willem Konjore.The CAA has been instructed to deal with the matter, and a representative is expected to arrive in Namibia after the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Council meeting in Monaco, Spain, this coming weekend.Despite the matter having been taken to the High Court by Kangueehi himself, a special congress is scheduled for February 28 at Otjiwarongo to elect a new leadership.’We informed all our members last Friday, and the names of nominees must be submitted within 14 days,’ Kangueehi added. Meanwhile, Kangueehi said two long-distance runners, still to be selected, will represent the country at the Southern Regional Cross Country competition billed for Mauritius on 28 February. Namibia will also host the Southern Africa Youth Championships on May 10 2009.In April this year, five junior athletes, also still to be named, will compete in the junior championship to be hosted by Mauritius, he said. – Nampa