Commonwealth participants hit by controversy

THE Namibian delegation returned home from the Commonwealth Games under a cloud of controversy after allegations of theft and begging for money were levelled against some members.

Namibia competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games that ended in Melbourne, Australia, on March 26. Sources yesterday told The Namibian that some members of the boxing team stole some linen and towels from the chalets where they stayed, and allegedly also stripped the removable glass bathroom shelves.It is alleged that some of them also emptied shower-gel and shampoo dispensers into their water bottles on the day of their departure.’MISSING ITEMS’ According to the source, on the day that they were leaving for the airport, the Australian volunteer who was responsible for the Namibian team “was in a state of shock as she could not return the key of one of the chalets”, because of the missing items.The source said the items were eventually returned, but only after a row between the boxing team manager, Ambrosius Kandjii, and some of his boxers.Kandjii condemned the theft, the source said.When contacted yesterday, Kandjii said there had been a misunderstanding between the Australian officials and some of the boxers.Kandjii said there was “nothing sinister about the whole thing”.According to him, all the items that the boxers had “taken by mistake” were returned.’LOW BLOW’ “These allegations are a low blow for boxing and as you know we are one of the best-performing codes in the country.It does not augur very well, but everything has been resolved and it is now history,” he said.He claimed that there were certain individuals in the Namibian delegation who wanted to tarnish the image of especially the boxers, because of their good performance at the Games.Namibian flyweight boxer Jafet Uutoni clinched gold for Namibia at the Games.The only other athlete to win a medal was Friedhelm Sack, who got bronze in the 10-metre air-pistol shooting event.Kandjii claimed that some people in the Namibian delegation “constantly” came up with negative stories about colleagues in codes that had black athletes.Namibia’s general team manager, Alna Similo, yesterday said a report on all the activities of the Namibian team in Melbourne would be compiled and submitted to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC).She confirmed that there had been an incident about items that were apparently taken, but said no one was searched when the Namibian team boarded the bus on the day of their departure.Similo rejected reports that some boxers had begged money from Australian volunteers.’POVERTY PLEA’ The source claimed that the boxing team pleaded poverty when they were invited to a farm belonging to a volunteer’s brother.Similo said although the athletes were asked to pay “a small fee”, she informed the Australians that they would not be able to pay that, and that the officials heading the team “would see what they could do”.She said she was not aware of any begging on the part of the boxers.The Australians also organised a kangaroo trip, a stage show and other events during the three weeks the Namibians stayed in Melbourne.The source also claimed that the boxing team had sold their Namibian T-shirts and sports clothes for about $500 per shirt, whereas the rest of the delegation exchanged theirs with sportsmen and women from other countries.Similo said the Australians had pasted notices on the walls of their village in case any Namibians wished to sell their clothing.”This was done in good faith, as some athletes felt that they should sell their T-shirts to have money for buying other items,” she said.She said there were no complaints from the buyers and she also saw some Namibians giving the Australians T-shirts with the Namibian logo and name for free.”I saw some swapping their shirts and I even gave mine for free,” she said.The Namibian team returned last week Thursday.Sources yesterday told The Namibian that some members of the boxing team stole some linen and towels from the chalets where they stayed, and allegedly also stripped the removable glass bathroom shelves.It is alleged that some of them also emptied shower-gel and shampoo dispensers into their water bottles on the day of their departure.’MISSING ITEMS’ According to the source, on the day that they were leaving for the airport, the Australian volunteer who was responsible for the Namibian team “was in a state of shock as she could not return the key of one of the chalets”, because of the missing items.The source said the items were eventually returned, but only after a row between the boxing team manager, Ambrosius Kandjii, and some of his boxers.Kandjii condemned the theft, the source said.When contacted yesterday, Kandjii said there had been a misunderstanding between the Australian officials and some of the boxers.Kandjii said there was “nothing sinister about the whole thing”.According to him, all the items that the boxers had “taken by mistake” were returned.’LOW BLOW’ “These allegations are a low blow for boxing and as you know we are one of the best-performing codes in the country.It does not augur very well, but everything has been resolved and it is now history,” he said.He claimed that there were certain individuals in the Namibian delegation who wanted to tarnish the image of especially the boxers, because of their good performance at the Games.Namibian flyweight boxer Jafet Uutoni clinched gold for Namibia at the Games.The only other athlete to win a medal was Friedhelm Sack, who got bronze in the 10-metre air-pistol shooting event. Kandjii claimed that some people in the Namibian delegation “constantly” came up with negative stories about colleagues in codes that had black athletes.Namibia’s general team manager, Alna Similo, yesterday said a report on all the activities of the Namibian team in Melbourne would be compiled and submitted to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC).She confirmed that there had been an incident about items that were apparently taken, but said no one was searched when the Namibian team boarded the bus on the day of their departure.Similo rejected reports that some boxers had begged money from Australian volunteers.’POVERTY PLEA’ The source claimed that the boxing team pleaded poverty when they were invited to a farm belonging to a volunteer’s brother.Similo said although the athletes were asked to pay “a small fee”, she informed the Australians that they would not be able to pay that, and that the officials heading the team “would see what they could do”.She said she was not aware of any begging on the part of the boxers.The Australians also organised a kangaroo trip, a stage show and other events during the three weeks the Namibians stayed in Melbourne.The source also claimed that the boxing team had sold their Namibian T-shirts and sports clothes for about $500 per shirt, whereas the rest of the delegation exchanged theirs with sportsmen and women from other countries.Similo said the Australians had pasted notices on the walls of their village in case any Namibians wished to sell their clothing.”This was done in good faith, as some athletes felt that they should sell their T-shirts to have money for buying other items,” she said.She said there were no complaints from the buyers and she also saw some Namibians giving the Australians T-shirts with the Namibian logo and name for free.”I saw some swapping their shirts and I even gave mine for free,” she said.The Namibian team returned last week Thursday.