Medic Gawanab receives praise

BRAVE Warriors medic Donatha Gawanab this week received praise from Blue Waters Sport Club after she saved one of their players who sustained a head injury in a cup tie at the Independence Stadium late last year.

Blue Waters right-footed defender Bullet Geingob suffered a fractured skull when he collided with a Civics player in a semi-final clash last year in Windhoek. Club spokesperson Tostao Imbili issued a statement on behalf of the team, saying that Gawanab saved the lives of two Blue Waters players even though she was juts a spectator who came to enjoy the game on the day.”She ended up on the pitch giving instructions to the first-aid staff that were at the stadium, who did not even know how to handle the injured players, while she was trying to save their lives.We commend her for her unselfishness, professionalism and bravery for saving the lives of the players while she was off duty,” the statement said.Gawanab was also instrumental in helping another Blue Waters player, Getzen Ndjiharine, who in the same match suffered from concussion.Ndjiharine has already resumed playing, while Geingob is still recuperating and he is expected to be in action by March.Gawanab was accused of not fulfilling her duties with the Brave Warriors during their preparatory matches ahead of the African Nations Cup qualifiers in South Africa last year.Allegations of having an affair with one of the players of the senior squad also emerged, prompting the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to call her to a hearing which has not yet been held.In fact, she was on the brink of being shown the door by the NFA, but her heroics of saving the life of Geingob, who was unconscious for over five minutes, made her retain her place on the technical committee of the senior side.Gawanab, who is one of the few qualified local medics on sport injuries, has served in that position for all the national teams, from the under-17 level up to the senior team.She is the longest-serving medic for the national sides and has also upgraded her qualifications continually.She is expected to take care of the players’ injuries and medical needs when Namibia embarks on its Nations Cup qualifying campaign in March.Club spokesperson Tostao Imbili issued a statement on behalf of the team, saying that Gawanab saved the lives of two Blue Waters players even though she was juts a spectator who came to enjoy the game on the day.”She ended up on the pitch giving instructions to the first-aid staff that were at the stadium, who did not even know how to handle the injured players, while she was trying to save their lives.We commend her for her unselfishness, professionalism and bravery for saving the lives of the players while she was off duty,” the statement said.Gawanab was also instrumental in helping another Blue Waters player, Getzen Ndjiharine, who in the same match suffered from concussion.Ndjiharine has already resumed playing, while Geingob is still recuperating and he is expected to be in action by March.Gawanab was accused of not fulfilling her duties with the Brave Warriors during their preparatory matches ahead of the African Nations Cup qualifiers in South Africa last year.Allegations of having an affair with one of the players of the senior squad also emerged, prompting the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to call her to a hearing which has not yet been held.In fact, she was on the brink of being shown the door by the NFA, but her heroics of saving the life of Geingob, who was unconscious for over five minutes, made her retain her place on the technical committee of the senior side.Gawanab, who is one of the few qualified local medics on sport injuries, has served in that position for all the national teams, from the under-17 level up to the senior team.She is the longest-serving medic for the national sides and has also upgraded her qualifications continually.She is expected to take care of the players’ injuries and medical needs when Namibia embarks on its Nations Cup qualifying campaign in March.