From the sideline

THE year 2005 is coming to a close in exactly 15 days and it has been characterised by great successes, missed opportunities, significant progress on some fronts and little change on others in Namibian sport.

There were notable highlights and sad moments for teams and individuals who are true sports enthusiasts. Namibian sport has over the past few years been characterised by mixed results and this year was no different.Possibly the biggest development for this year was the multi-million investment in football by a consortium of Namibian companies, with MTC being the biggest, while the non-qualification of the Namibian cricket side for the 2007 Cricket World Cup was one of the major setbacks.Football authorities, players and fans, as mentioned in my previous columns, should regard themselves as extremely lucky to have been accorded N$40 million for the next five years, while many other codes can only dream of that.Football is obviously the most popular sport in the country and the investment by MTC, FNB and NBL clearly shows that there is a commitment to bring about change in the code that has not lived up to expectations at least over the past six years.The consortium of companies and the football authorities have promised to produce winning national teams with the aim of at least making it to the 2008 African Nations Cup, but with the aim of building a formidable side for the 2010 World Cup.There should be no excuses; the money is available – now the job should be done.The nation has been waiting for far too long for football to take its rightful place as the number one sport in the country.Mr Petrus Tileinge Damaseb, please make it happen.Another positive development was Namibia’s ambitions to host the 2010 African nations Cup.This was clearly not on everyone’s mind and all thought that it could never be achieved, knowing Namibians for their pessimism.For now, all of us should work towards the goal of achieving this feat.I personally think it is possible and cannot see why not.Also positive was the authority the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) showed in advising, assisting financially and sometimes investigating certain codes with the aim to correct the wrongs in them.Kudos to Chief Administrator Rusten Mogane, his staff and the Commissioners.Both the under-19 rugby and cricket sides have qualified for their respective world cups next year and their presence there will keep the Namibian flag flying high.Namibian cyclists and swimmers are often not highlighted enough because they are individual performers.Athletes in these two codes hardly disappoint and the achievements of the many young and talented sportsmen and women cannot go unnoticed for 2005.Hockey players have done themselves a proud, as the women’s side grabbed a bronze medal at the African Nations Cup championships in South Africa, while karateka, endurance horse riders, marathon runners and boxers have fared exceptionally well overall.Once again, on administrative level, Namibian sport has not improved its professionalism, competence and at times corruption.Rugby and athletics are a case in point, where there was constant infighting at the highest level, resulting in the non-performance of the players and athletes.Although some athletes performed well, especially on the continental level, athletics administration has not been as healthy with individuals often at each other’s throats for mere petty issues.Athletics boss Alpha Kangueehi needs to pull himself together and concentrate on the advancement of athletes and this he can achieve by surrounding himself with people who are capable and truthful in running the show.Rugby had a turbulent year overall, with the retirement of the core national team players because of what they termed an incompetent administration under president Dirk Conradie.The only way for the game to reach its peak again is for Conradie to try by all means to resolve the outstanding problems between the union and the players, while he should also work towards an improved image of the union by employing a credible chief executive officer who can garner sponsorship for the cash-strapped body.Netball has not moved forward an inch.Why? Because no national team was involved in any major international competition.The year 2006 for netball should be one of drastic change, because this code has really gone backwards.Apart from school netball and the Khomas League, netball had a dreadful year overall.There were some individuals who really worked hard to bring about change and at the same time make progress in the various codes, but the negative aspects remain dominant overall.The point is, Namibia has no winning culture and the passion for sport is just too little.* See next week’s column for the best and worst sports happenings in Namibia.Namibian sport has over the past few years been characterised by mixed results and this year was no different.Possibly the biggest development for this year was the multi-million investment in football by a consortium of Namibian companies, with MTC being the biggest, while the non-qualification of the Namibian cricket side for the 2007 Cricket World Cup was one of the major setbacks.Football authorities, players and fans, as mentioned in my previous columns, should regard themselves as extremely lucky to have been accorded N$40 million for the next five years, while many other codes can only dream of that.Football is obviously the most popular sport in the country and the investment by MTC, FNB and NBL clearly shows that there is a commitment to bring about change in the code that has not lived up to expectations at least over the past six years.The consortium of companies and the football authorities have promised to produce winning national teams with the aim of at least making it to the 2008 African Nations Cup, but with the aim of building a formidable side for the 2010 World Cup.There should be no excuses; the money is available – now the job should be done.The nation has been waiting for far too long for football to take its rightful place as the number one sport in the country.Mr Petrus Tileinge Damaseb, please make it happen.Another positive development was Namibia’s ambitions to host the 2010 African nations Cup.This was clearly not on everyone’s mind and all thought that it could never be achieved, knowing Namibians for their pessimism.For now, all of us should work towards the goal of achieving this feat.I personally think it is possible and cannot see why not.Also positive was the authority the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) showed in advising, assisting financially and sometimes investigating certain codes with the aim to correct the wrongs in them.Kudos to Chief Administrator Rusten Mogane, his staff and the Commissioners.Both the under-19 rugby and cricket sides have qualified for their respective world cups next year and their presence there will keep the Namibian flag flying high.Namibian cyclists and swimmers are often not highlighted enough because they are individual performers.Athletes in these two codes hardly disappoint and the achievements of the many young and talented sportsmen and women cannot go unnoticed for 2005.Hockey players have done themselves a proud, as the women’s side grabbed a bronze medal at the African Nations Cup championships in South Africa, while karateka, endurance horse riders, marathon runners and boxers have fared exceptionally well overall.Once again, on administrative level, Namibian sport has not improved its professionalism, competence and at times corruption.Rugby and athletics are a case in point, where there was constant infighting at the highest level, resulting in the non-performance of the players and athletes.Although some athletes performed well, especially on the continental level, athletics administration has not been as healthy with individuals often at each other’s throats for mere petty issues.Athletics boss Alpha Kangueehi needs to pull himself together and concentrate on the advancement of athletes and this he can achieve by surrounding himself with people who are capable and truthful in running the show.Rugby had
a turbulent year overall, with the retirement of the core national team players because of what they termed an incompetent administration under president Dirk Conradie.The only way for the game to reach its peak again is for Conradie to try by all means to resolve the outstanding problems between the union and the players, while he should also work towards an improved image of the union by employing a credible chief executive officer who can garner sponsorship for the cash-strapped body.Netball has not moved forward an inch.Why? Because no national team was involved in any major international competition.The year 2006 for netball should be one of drastic change, because this code has really gone backwards.Apart from school netball and the Khomas League, netball had a dreadful year overall.There were some individuals who really worked hard to bring about change and at the same time make progress in the various codes, but the negative aspects remain dominant overall.The point is, Namibia has no winning culture and the passion for sport is just too little.* See next week’s column for the best and worst sports happenings in Namibia.