Looser treasures national awards

The path to success is riddled with setbacks and obstacles but the passion for her craft fuels star cyclist Vera Looser’s desire to excel.

Remaining true to your ambition while overcoming adversity will greatly enhance your chances of attaining success, Looser said after being crowned the best athlete and sportswoman in the country during the national sport awards at Swakopmund on Saturday, capping a success-laden year.

The 30-year-old’s notable accomplishments this year include becoming the first Namibian woman to win the gruelling Absa Cape Epic; finishing seventh at the UCI MTB Cross Country Marathon World Championship; and placing third at the UCI Marathon World Cup.

“I feel extremely privileged and honoured,” she said about winning the two awards in an interview with The Namibian Sport yesterday.

“I’ll definitely appreciate the good moments because I’m not taking them for granted. I will cherish them because I know there will be not so good moments coming.”

One such bad moment occurred last weekend in South Africa where she was due to compete but broke her hand, prematurely ending her plans for the year.

“My racing plans are put on hold for awhile, but I’ll get back to training soonest indoors and once I can ride my bike again, I’ll start training outside.

“I’ll start with a build up next year, so hopefully I can have an equally good year. It’s a big year with the Olympic Games coming up and I have a few personal goals I want to achieve,” she said.

But it is during moments such as this that Looser has cultivated a winning mentality which has seen her become Namibia’s pre-eminent woman cyclist.

“I would say winning does take a lot hard work, it doesn’t come overnight. I’ve been riding my bike since I was nine years old. I have been training many hours for many years and have done many races where I have not been winning,” she said.

“Winning is a reward for all the hard work you put in. You don’t always win, although I had a really good year. There have been races where I don’t have a really good day and it just doesn’t turn out the way I’d like it to.

“I love the feeling of being fit and healthy, pushing my body to the absolute limit and seeing how far I can push it. It’s a great pleasure for me.”

MMA PIONEER

Mixed martial arts (MMA) star Veja Hinda and his camp also appreciate the gifted fighter getting recognised as the sportsman of the year on Saturday.

Like Looser, Hinda did not attend the awards reception at the The MTC Dome due to other commitments.

“It is a great accomplishment and milestone in my career. I feel honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award,” Hinda said.

“One year from now, I see more growth and mastering of my sports. I see myself representing Namibia at more global

platforms and continuously challenging myself to become the best.”

Hinda’s coach Carlos de Sousa said the prize would motivate Hinda and his fellow fighters to keep improving and growing the MMA movement.

“To MMA sport, it means the world to be among the best in the country and to achieve such a great award. For Veja, it’s a family achievement as we have many athletes in the family. The standards are high but he is always up for a challenge to conquer,” De Sousa said of the ex-African champion.

A pioneer, Hinda became the first Namibian to win an international belt when he won the 2022 IMMAF Africa featherweight strap.

His pioneering victory inspired a fellow Sousa Studio stablemate to the top of the podium in September.

“We have already a new African champion in the flyweight division, Damian Muller. It shows there’s so much hidden talent to be exposed and recognised in this great nation of Namibia,” De Sousa said.

“With the right guidelines and dedication, we can achieve anything we desire. This award shows that Namibia is starting to recognise the sports of MMA.”

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