Erongo schools’ sport turns over a new leaf

THE administration of schools’ sport in the Erongo Region needs an about-turn to reclaim the title as best-organised region in Namibia.

According to Tony Britz, chairman of the newly elected Welwitschia Regional Executive Committee (WREC), old hands with ample experience in sports administration have been re-elected on the committee to do just that. At the most recent regional congress on January 24, the outgoing committee, who was chaired by Jonathan Tsusib, were sharply criticised for poor control that has allegedly left schools’ sport in a dismal state.”At the …congress …, the state of sport was found very wanting,” Britz said at a meeting with the press on Monday.”The general standard of administration left a lot to be desired, as no school present could confirm receiving written notification of the congress.”Some schools were not represented at the congress because they were not notified.Even the principal of the hosting school was left in the dark as to the date and time of the meeting, according to Britz, who has previously held the reins as WREC Chairman.”The outgoing WREC could not even present an audited financial report, leave alone the submission of an asset register.No minutes of the previous congress were available and poor excuses were at the order of the day.Delegates became rather agitated with the [outgoing] chairperson pushing along political lines to camouflage the failures of the committee,” said Britz.”We have to be honest: electing [a committee] along racial lines is detrimental to sport.People are quick to make allegations of racism when their blunders are pointed out to them.”The problems have become apparent throughout the three-year reign of the previous WREC, according to Britz.”Things went backwards and after receiving numerous complaints from parents and teachers, it was clear that changes had to be made at this congress to get schools’ sport in the region back on track.”Meanwhile, good progress has been made in turning the town’s existing sport facilities into a sport centre of international standards.Materials for laying a tartan athletics track at the envisaged Swakopmund Sport Centre are on site and expected to be completed by April.Tennis courts have been resurfaced, netball courts spruced up, a volleyball court is ready for play and the new cricket pitch will compare well with the best there is, said Britz.The stadium has already been equipped with floodlights.Further plans include the erection of a boundary fence to the tune of N$680 000.Some N$2 million will potentially be spent to build open stands on the eastern side of the athletics track.The committee is awaiting feedback on the progress made in moving the existing indoor swimming pool at the Mole to its new location at the Sport Centre.At the most recent regional congress on January 24, the outgoing committee, who was chaired by Jonathan Tsusib, were sharply criticised for poor control that has allegedly left schools’ sport in a dismal state.”At the …congress …, the state of sport was found very wanting,” Britz said at a meeting with the press on Monday.”The general standard of administration left a lot to be desired, as no school present could confirm receiving written notification of the congress.”Some schools were not represented at the congress because they were not notified.Even the principal of the hosting school was left in the dark as to the date and time of the meeting, according to Britz, who has previously held the reins as WREC Chairman.”The outgoing WREC could not even present an audited financial report, leave alone the submission of an asset register.No minutes of the previous congress were available and poor excuses were at the order of the day.Delegates became rather agitated with the [outgoing] chairperson pushing along political lines to camouflage the failures of the committee,” said Britz.”We have to be honest: electing [a committee] along racial lines is detrimental to sport.People are quick to make allegations of racism when their blunders are pointed out to them.”The problems have become apparent throughout the three-year reign of the previous WREC, according to Britz.”Things went backwards and after receiving numerous complaints from parents and teachers, it was clear that changes had to be made at this congress to get schools’ sport in the region back on track.”Meanwhile, good progress has been made in turning the town’s existing sport facilities into a sport centre of international standards.Materials for laying a tartan athletics track at the envisaged Swakopmund Sport Centre are on site and expected to be completed by April.Tennis courts have been resurfaced, netball courts spruced up, a volleyball court is ready for play and the new cricket pitch will compare well with the best there is, said Britz.The stadium has already been equipped with floodlights.Further plans include the erection of a boundary fence to the tune of N$680 000.Some N$2 million will potentially be spent to build open stands on the eastern side of the athletics track.The committee is awaiting feedback on the progress made in moving the existing indoor swimming pool at the Mole to its new location at the Sport Centre.