Jade Nangula: From doubts to discipline and victory

When Jade Nangula (27) and a friend walked past the University of Namibia (Unam) sport field in 2019, they never imagined it would change her life.

Drawn by the energy of the athletes in training, they joined the track team – simply to keep fit.

What began as casual exercise eventually turned into a journey of sacrifice, self-belief and victory.

“Coach Erwin Naimhwaka welcomed us. He saw my potential and gradually started to increase the intensity of my training, and we started competing in local competitions,” Nangula says

Her initial times were not impressive though, she admits.

“My times were really awful. I finished the 200m in around 32 seconds, if not worse, while the 100m was around 13 seconds. I ran the 400m in over a minute.”

The coach, however, saw something in Nangula and encouraged her to push on.

“He said the only thing that was important was to push forward and improve on my times,” she says.

VICTORY

All this perseverance and encouragement led to Nangula’s 11.81-second victory in the women’s 100m heat two of the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Grand Prix in South Africa on 19 March.

She did not expect it, she says.

In that moment she was overcome with all sorts of emotions, but mostly gratitude, she says.

SACRIFICES ARE WORTH IT

“Crossing the finish line and seeing my personal best time was something I had worked so hard for,” Nangula says.

“It was a reminder that all the training sessions and every sacrifice was worth it on this journey. It was definitely a pleasant surprise to achieve a personal best and finish with a win in my heat.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to compete at such levels.”

Hard work, consistency, and staying focused delivers results, she says.

“But I know there’s still a long way to go.”

Winning comes at a price, Nangula says.

“A win doesn’t happen overnight, but if you put in the effort and stay disciplined, you’ll be surprised by what you can achieve. I enjoy the journey and celebrate the small wins along the way,” she notes.

“We all have moments of doubt, but the key is to push past them and believe in your potential. Every small step forward matters.”

EVERY STEP MATTERS

Nangula’s advice to aspiring athletes is to not compare their journeys to that of anyone else.

“Rather focus on improving yourself one day at a time. Keep showing up and working hard,” she says.

The athlete trains six days a week, two hours at a time.

“There are many days when I have to sacrifice events, social gatherings, or even just time to relax because of training. Missing out on family celebrations, outings with friends, or special occasions can be tough. The results and progress make it all worth it, though.”

A COACH’S DREAM

Coach Naimhwaka praises Nangula for her endurance.

“Jade’s progress and victories were not a big surprise, as I believe she has a lot of potential and she is going to improve even more. It is a pleasure to work with her.

“Her commitment, consistency and dedication is what every coach dreams to have in an athlete, and it rubs off on other athletes,” he says.

Naimhwaka says the Unam Athletics Club is excited about athletics development in Namibia and the unearthing of more talent in the country.

I KNEW SHE COULD DO IT

Nangula’s mother, Lena, says it was a pleasure to see her daughter’s hard work finally paying off at the ASA Grand Prix.

“I was overwhelmed, and all I could say was thank you Lord. It felt like a dream come true, because I have known she was a great athlete since her school years.

“It was a great opportunity for other upcoming athletes to see that nothing is impossible. Jade worked so hard, and that convinced me that hard work pays off.”

Nangula is not only a star athlete, but also excels as a master’s student in knowledge management at a local university.

“I am well aware that a sport career is limited by the biological clock, and intend to continue with my personal and professional development. In this regard, I am currently enrolled for a master’s in knowledge management, and will continue pursuing my personal and professional development beyond that,” Nangula says.

“On the athletics front, I intend to actively pursue my passion to the highest level possible using regional and continental platforms, and eventually compete on international and global platforms.”

This would take absolute discipline, commitment and resilience, Nangula says.

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