From the sideline

THE Namibian Commonwealth Games team leaves the country tomorrow and, as usual, there were several hiccups that cropped up during the build-up to the event.

Each time when a large contingent leaves the country for international participation, Namibian officials, administrators and athletes become involved in some fight or another. This time, the question of funding came up, because teams needed preparation money.The Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) got away with an explanation that the money was solely meant for the athletes who qualified for the Games and was to be given to them in cash, but also blamed the Ministry of Sport for being slow in releasing the money.Secondly came the fiasco of long-distance runner Beata Naigambo who was omitted from the athletics team despite qualifying for the event.The Chef de Mission to the Games, Joan Smit, and her team manager claimed that they never received her name from Athletics Namibia, and they argued that she in any case did not qualify during a race that was sanctioned by the world athletics body.This was all proven wrong because Naigambo qualified at an International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) meet in Germany and was therefore eligible.Neither AN nor the Commonwealth Games committee made sure of the facts, and had to be informed by reporters that the athletes had indeed qualified.Naigambo will be on the plane tomorrow.At the same time, AN hastily organised two athletics meets to get some athletes to qualify for the continental showpiece as 800-metres runner Agnes Samaria was the only contender in that code.Young sprinter Hitjivirue Kaanjuka did not qualify for the 200m, but was included in the team because he was close to the qualifying time.One could ask what will happen in the future if another athlete is also close to the qualifying time but cannot go.Close is not good enough.The reason given was that he was still young and it would be good exposure for him.The exposure is good, but what about the rules and standards? This question has been swept under the carpet by the officials and this will in future put their level of consistency in decision making in great danger.And then came the question of which coach between Lucky Gawanab and Abraham So-oabeb should be included in the delegation as officials for athletics.Both men were in the team, but after the inclusion of Naigambo and Hitjivirue, Gawanab had to make way.Gawanab did unfortunately not get the blessing from President Hifikepunye Pohamba after the team paid a courtesy call on him, while he also missed out on having lunch with the head of state like the other team members and officials.After realising that So-oabeb would not be able to manage the three athletes alone, and that he is not the coach of any of the three athletes, the Games committee brought him back.Poor Gawanab, it was not the first time that he is left behind when the team goes for international competitions.This time he got lucky, though, and he will be there.They have now shifted So-oabeb to technical advisor.It has not been made clear whether he would be the advisor of the entire team or just the three athletes.Among all the drama that has taken place ahead of the Games, the administrators who are taking this team to Australia will have sleepless nights while in Melbourne.They will do so because they will leave Namibia without two disabled athletes who have legally qualified for the Games.These two men are power lifter Ruben Soroseb and sprinter Simpson Gariseb.Apparently there have been problems with their accreditation and by late yesterday, the two men were still waiting for confirmation whether they would be part of the team or not.In fact Smit is already in Melbourne where she is trying to get the two accredited for the Games after their names were not submitted with the first lists of entry to the Games.Such are the problems that are dogging Namibian sport every year and these are mostly caused by a lack of communication among the codes and sport authorities.Time and again these problems crop up but the officials do not learn from their past mistakes.For now, the various athletes should do their best and concentrate on their activities on the field, while the officials should see that athletes get all the support they need.Avoid any drama along the lines of what happened in Athens in 2004.This time, the question of funding came up, because teams needed preparation money.The Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) got away with an explanation that the money was solely meant for the athletes who qualified for the Games and was to be given to them in cash, but also blamed the Ministry of Sport for being slow in releasing the money.Secondly came the fiasco of long-distance runner Beata Naigambo who was omitted from the athletics team despite qualifying for the event.The Chef de Mission to the Games, Joan Smit, and her team manager claimed that they never received her name from Athletics Namibia, and they argued that she in any case did not qualify during a race that was sanctioned by the world athletics body.This was all proven wrong because Naigambo qualified at an International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) meet in Germany and was therefore eligible.Neither AN nor the Commonwealth Games committee made sure of the facts, and had to be informed by reporters that the athletes had indeed qualified.Naigambo will be on the plane tomorrow.At the same time, AN hastily organised two athletics meets to get some athletes to qualify for the continental showpiece as 800-metres runner Agnes Samaria was the only contender in that code.Young sprinter Hitjivirue Kaanjuka did not qualify for the 200m, but was included in the team because he was close to the qualifying time.One could ask what will happen in the future if another athlete is also close to the qualifying time but cannot go.Close is not good enough.The reason given was that he was still young and it would be good exposure for him.The exposure is good, but what about the rules and standards? This question has been swept under the carpet by the officials and this will in future put their level of consistency in decision making in great danger.And then came the question of which coach between Lucky Gawanab and Abraham So-oabeb should be included in the delegation as officials for athletics.Both men were in the team, but after the inclusion of Naigambo and Hitjivirue, Gawanab had to make way.Gawanab did unfortunately not get the blessing from President Hifikepunye Pohamba after the team paid a courtesy call on him, while he also missed out on having lunch with the head of state like the other team members and officials.After realising that So-oabeb would not be able to manage the three athletes alone, and that he is not the coach of any of the three athletes, the Games committee brought him back.Poor Gawanab, it was not the first time that he is left behind when the team goes for international competitions.This time he got lucky, though, and he will be there.They have now shifted So-oabeb to technical advisor.It has not been made clear whether he would be the advisor of the entire team or just the three athletes.Among all the drama that has taken place ahead of the Games, the administrators who are taking this team to Australia will have sleepless nights while in Melbourne.They will do so because they will leave Namibia without two disabled athletes who have legally qualified for the Games.These two men are power lifter Ruben Soroseb and sprinter Simpson Gariseb.Apparently there have been problems with their accreditation and by late yesterday, the two men were still waiting for confirmation whether they would be part of the team or not.In fact Smit is already in Melbourne where she is trying to get the two accredited for the Games after their names were not submitted with the first lists of entry to the Games.Such are the problems that are dogging Namibian sport every year and these are mostly caused by a lack of communication among the codes and sport authorities.Time and again these problems crop up but the officials do not learn from their past mistakes.For now, the various athletes should do their best and concentrate on their activities on the field, while the officials should see that athletes get all the support they need.Avoid any drama along the lines of what happened in Athens in 2004.