Mutorwa worried about Africa Games preps

WINDHOEK – Sports Minister John Mutorwa on Tuesday expressed concern about the slow pace of preparations for the All Africa Games.

Mutorwa was speaking during the launch of Erwin Handura’s book on Namibian athletics in Windhoek on Tuesday. The continental games are set for Algiers in Algeria from July 11 to 23.”Time is not on our side.All codes participating (in the AAG) need to start preparing now in all earnest,” the Minister said.With the games less than five months away, no code has yet received preparation money.Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Rusten Mogane confirmed that no money has been paid out yet, because the NSC’s budget was still being scrutinised by the Directorate of Sport.He was, however, positive that his office would receive feedback from the directorate this week.Athletes can expect some financial assistance to aid their preparation by next week, Mogane said.He emphasised that only codes and athletes who have already qualified for the All Africa Games will be considered for preparation money, which he said was not to be used to qualify for the Games.Mogane was, however, happy that the athletes continued their preparation although they have not received any money yet.Last year, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, some athletes struggled with preparation money, leading to some starting late with their training, a situation which Mutorwa condemned at the time.Despite that, the team left for the Commonwealth games and some of the codes performed poorly, with the most notable performance coming from boxer Japhet Utoni who claimed a gold medal.Another athlete was Friedhelm Sack, a shooter, who won a bronze medal at the world showpiece.NampaThe continental games are set for Algiers in Algeria from July 11 to 23.”Time is not on our side.All codes participating (in the AAG) need to start preparing now in all earnest,” the Minister said.With the games less than five months away, no code has yet received preparation money.Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Rusten Mogane confirmed that no money has been paid out yet, because the NSC’s budget was still being scrutinised by the Directorate of Sport.He was, however, positive that his office would receive feedback from the directorate this week.Athletes can expect some financial assistance to aid their preparation by next week, Mogane said.He emphasised that only codes and athletes who have already qualified for the All Africa Games will be considered for preparation money, which he said was not to be used to qualify for the Games.Mogane was, however, happy that the athletes continued their preparation although they have not received any money yet.Last year, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, some athletes struggled with preparation money, leading to some starting late with their training, a situation which Mutorwa condemned at the time.Despite that, the team left for the Commonwealth games and some of the codes performed poorly, with the most notable performance coming from boxer Japhet Utoni who claimed a gold medal.Another athlete was Friedhelm Sack, a shooter, who won a bronze medal at the world showpiece.Nampa