Muinjo urges tolerance and fair play

NAMIBIA Football Association (NFA) President John Muinjo called on the Outjo youth to be respectful, tolerant as the Youth Development Through Football (YDF) Project held another successful workshop at Outjo.

Muinjo was speaking at the YDF Outjo Motivational Workshop that also saw Outjo Constituency councillor Thomas Sheya, NFA technical director Klaus Staerk and NFA chief executive Barry Rukoro addressing the youthful gathering at the Outjo High School Hall.’You have to be respectful, tolerant and always play fair. You must also be willing to learn more to empower yourself and makes things easier in your life’, advised Muinjo.Councillor Sheya called on the youth to be proactive in addressing uses that affect their lives: ‘You have to come forward and make suggestions to the local government on how best to serve the youth because we are here for you’.Their sentiments were reiterated by Rukoro and Klaus before Brave Warriors legend Phillip Gariseb talked about his career life.’It was tough back in the days because the avenues for advice at the young age like this were scarce but I was fortunate enough to make it through the ranks. I came from Khorixas to Paresis Secondary in Otjiwarongo and coach Herman Katjiuongua saw talent and the next thing I was in the national youth team and developed into a regular member of the Brave Warriors and I’m very proud to have played at the Nations Cup in Burkina Faso,’ said Gariseb, who featured prominently for the Class of 98, arguably Namibia’s best team ever.Gariseb, who is heading the Otjiwarongo youth league formation, also called on the youth to make use of the social and educational opportunities available as football talent alone is not enough.’You have to take your studies seriously and make use of the social workers and police offers in your area to ensure that your life is on the right path to success,’ Gariseb said.Outjo Police inspector Adolf Edward Gamiseb spoke to the youth about crime and how best to stay out of it.’If you shoplift now or commit any minor crime, 20 years later you wont be able to play soccer or be employed anywhere due to this criminal record and so I urge you to be careful,’ he said. Local social workers Florida Saburada and Vikas Rapanjee invited the Outjo youth to make use of their service in finding the best possible means to overcome problems in their lives, both academically and socially.The youth identified problems such as discrimination and lack of facilities at the town and called on stakeholders to address them. YDF co-ordinator Isack Hamata talked about how important it is to be a healthy living Namibian, with Amaning offering advice on the importance of the beautiful game of football.A steering committee was established to oversee the establishment of under-17 and under-15 boys’ and girls’ football leagues at Outjo.YDF will be launched on Friday in Windhoek and will organise a national festival next month, bringing together about 11 towns in which youth leagues have been established.The project is a partnership between the NFA, Goethe-Zentrum Windhoek and GTZ. – NFA Secretariat