MTC Dome houses sport ecosystem

Namibia needs to latch onto and embrace the high performance culture, said the MTC Dome’s chief executive officer, Fanus Engelbrecht, during yesterday’s joint launch of the Namibia Sport Expo (NSE) and the Namibia Annual Sport Awards (NSSA).

The two events will take place consecutively at the MTC Dome in October.

The Sport Expo returns for a third instalment and its original setting following last year’s virtually held event. It runs from 25 to 27 October, with the 19th national awards reception set for the day after.

“Talent needs an environment that is conducive to maximise potential, that is important. And, high-performance sport needs a sport ecosystem where all the various entities are inter-dependent and working together for the goal to maximise the potential in our talent and future stars,” said Engelbretcht.

“They deserve the best that we can give them so that they can perform at the highest level possible on the world stage.”

The MTC Dome is a certified member of the Association of High Performance Sport Centres, making it a credible establishment, Engelbrecht said.

At present, the national men’s senior rugby team and Namibia Premier Football League champions, African Stars, are using the facility to prepare for upcoming assignments.

“We are [internationally] recognised as a high-performance centre. We have the programmes, manpower and the spirit to really drive a high-performance environment,” Engelbrecht noted.

“But we need a relationship, not an agreement, with the sport commission so that we can open the doors of our facility, the MTC Dome, for federations to use as their home,” he explained.

“The one thing we don’t have, and that is something that we’re working hard on, is a high-performance culture in Namibia. Only a few people understand what high-performance sport is really about.

“So, we need to instil a high-performance culture. And that’s not only the athletes, a few administrators and coaches, that is for the nation to understand what high-performance sport means, so that they can support and help,” Engelbrecht said.

“It is an integral part of the future performance of our talent that we have a high-performance culture. These days, high performance sport in the world is not so much about the facilities and programmes any more, it is about a high-performance culture. It means you think differently, creatively, progressively and think on a different level. That’s what is happening in the rest of the world, so it means we have to catch up.”

The third NSE attracted 16 conference speakers, 23 federations, three umbrella bodies and more than 10 stalls occupied by those nutrition and sport medicine exhibitors.

A greater turnout and variety is anticipated this year.

The chess, kickboxing, inline hockey, archery will run international tournaments during at the expo.

“All conference speakers and whatever we are going to do at the expo will centre around the theme. We are inviting exhibitors and all those in the sporting fraternity to showcase what they have on their table,” said the Sport Expo project director, Tjeripo Musutua.

Similarly, Nasa 2023 will be “an exciting” affair guided by a fair adjudication process of the achievements of the country’s highest performing athletes and officials over a 12-month period.

There are 19 categories for which nominations opened yesterday and close on 19 August.

“Guided by the Nasa Rule book, we are sure the efforts made by our sportswomen and men is recognised,” said Ilke Platt, the deputy chairperson of the awards’ judging panel.

“The adjudication process will look at national, regional and international competitions, the issue of national colours and international participation granted by NSC will form part of the adjudication process.”

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