Okahandja Highlanders have received a new travelling kit as they prepare to defend their Ongos Valley 7s title at Walvis Bay this weekend.
The team received the kit from Okahandja constituency councillor Bethuel Tjaveondja, who wished the team well on their bid to retain their title.
Speaking at the office of the regional council, Tjaveondja has encouraged the players to “dream big.”
“I always encourage our athletes to dream big because you don’t know where you could end up if you keep playing sport,” he says.
Highlanders coach Deon Vilas has expressed gratitude to the Namibian government for the gesture.
“This gift of travelling gear might seem small but to us it means the world. We would thus like to thank the government, through this esteemed office, for this gift. We will go all out to make the town of Okahandja proud,” he says.
Okahandja sport officer Mara Kandjiriomuini has facilitated the handover and reiterated the government’s intent on helping sport grow, through whatever means possible.
“The government cares and it will continue to help where it can,” she says.
Okahandja Highlanders won the coastal leg of last year’s Ongos Valley 7s rugby competition. The team is expected to travel on Friday morning to defend their title.
During the launch of the 2026 Ongos Valley Sevens in June, Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) president Petri Theron announced that Namibia will host an international rugby sevens tournament on 31 October and 1 November.
“This is more than just another event on our calendar. It is a reflection of the confidence partners and participating unions have in Namibia’s ability to stage international competitions of a high standard.
“It provides our players the opportunity to compete against quality opposition on home soil and offers our supporters the chance to experience international rugby in our own backyard,” he said.
“For the NRU, this forms part of a bigger vision: creating meaningful opportunities for our athletes, strengthening our high performance structures, and positioning Namibia as a recognised destination for rugby events on the African continent,” said Theron.
