Disabled athletes miss out on games due to transport

OFFICIALS at the Sunshine Centre at Walvis Bay blame the Erongo Region’s Youth and Sports Office, for missing out on an international sports event for people with disabilities underway in Durban, South Africa.

Sunshine Centre is a non-profit organization with 30 disabled people, who are sponsored by Overberg Fishing Company at Walvis Bay. Head of Sports at the Centre, Margret Richter told Nampa yesterday that 12 athletes were selected at trials held in Windhoek last November, and they were supposed to take part in athletics championships that started on March 20 in Durban.Unfortunately, the athletes did not make it to Durban, the main problem being cited as a lack of transport that the Youth and Sports office promised to provide, but failed to do.Richter said this was unfair on the participants, because “we corresponded with them but at the last minute they said they could not provide transport”.She further expressed disappointment that some of the athletes would probably have qualified for other international games, and missing such an event is ‘unfortunate’.The athletes, especially those who would have competed for the first time outside Namibia, were sad when told that the journey was off.Meanwhile, Sports Officer Frans Namboga denied the allegations, stating that the Sunshine Centre never contacted him for any transport arrangements.He said usually, whenever anyone needs assistance in terms of transport, he would receive a letter from those in need and in turn forward that to his head office in Windhoek.It’s only when he receives the response, whether positive or negative, that he would again deal with the people asking for help.In this case, Namboga said, no letter was received and no transport arrangements were made for any trip to Durban.- NampaHead of Sports at the Centre, Margret Richter told Nampa yesterday that 12 athletes were selected at trials held in Windhoek last November, and they were supposed to take part in athletics championships that started on March 20 in Durban.Unfortunately, the athletes did not make it to Durban, the main problem being cited as a lack of transport that the Youth and Sports office promised to provide, but failed to do.Richter said this was unfair on the participants, because “we corresponded with them but at the last minute they said they could not provide transport”.She further expressed disappointment that some of the athletes would probably have qualified for other international games, and missing such an event is ‘unfortunate’.The athletes, especially those who would have competed for the first time outside Namibia, were sad when told that the journey was off.Meanwhile, Sports Officer Frans Namboga denied the allegations, stating that the Sunshine Centre never contacted him for any transport arrangements.He said usually, whenever anyone needs assistance in terms of transport, he would receive a letter from those in need and in turn forward that to his head office in Windhoek.It’s only when he receives the response, whether positive or negative, that he would again deal with the people asking for help.In this case, Namboga said, no letter was received and no transport arrangements were made for any trip to Durban.- Nampa