Mutorwa blasts companies and media on Games

MINISTER of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa expressed his disappointment at the lack of support for the Namibian team that will leave for the All Africa Games in Algeria on Saturday.

Speaking at a function organised by the Algerian Embassy for the Namibian team, Mutorwa said that the lukewarm response from sponsors for the Namibian team was indicative of a lack of interest and a general Afro-pessimism amongst Africans themselves. “If it was the Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games, companies would have jumped at the chance to sponsor the Namibian team, but when it’s the All African Games they are not interested.We must get rid of this Afro-pessimism,” he said.Mutorwa also expressed disappointment at the low media turnout at the function, which was only attended by Namibia Sport.”I’m so disappointed that the media is not here.To them it’s not a big thing, but once the team leaves, you’ll see the newspapers will be full of small and negative incidents that they will blow up out of proportion,” he said.He said this was indicative of the Afro-pessimism that Africans brought on themselves and called on Namibians to change this attitude.”It is not too late for private sponsors to come on board.This team will represent our country, they will be on national duty and will need our support,” he said.”Sometimes we are our own worst enemies, because we are too pessimistic about ourselves and that is bad.We always question our own abilities, like, for instance, will Algeria be able to host the Games? And it’s so sad that this emanates from Africans themselves.If we are to propel our own destiny, we have to be optimistic about our own future,” he said.Close to 50 African nations will participate in 26 sporting disciplines, of which 20 are Olympic, three are non-Olympic and three are Para-Olympic disciplines.”If it was the Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games, companies would have jumped at the chance to sponsor the Namibian team, but when it’s the All African Games they are not interested.We must get rid of this Afro-pessimism,” he said.Mutorwa also expressed disappointment at the low media turnout at the function, which was only attended by Namibia Sport.”I’m so disappointed that the media is not here.To them it’s not a big thing, but once the team leaves, you’ll see the newspapers will be full of small and negative incidents that they will blow up out of proportion,” he said.He said this was indicative of the Afro-pessimism that Africans brought on themselves and called on Namibians to change this attitude.”It is not too late for private sponsors to come on board.This team will represent our country, they will be on national duty and will need our support,” he said.”Sometimes we are our own worst enemies, because we are too pessimistic about ourselves and that is bad.We always question our own abilities, like, for instance, will Algeria be able to host the Games? And it’s so sad that this emanates from Africans themselves.If we are to propel our own destiny, we have to be optimistic about our own future,” he said.Close to 50 African nations will participate in 26 sporting disciplines, of which 20 are Olympic, three are non-Olympic and three are Para-Olympic disciplines.