Nam ready for Youth Games

THE Namibian team is ready for the Zone Six Under-20 Youth Games from June 26 to July 6.

The Namibian soccer, netball, basketball and athletics teams are already in camp in preparation for the Games. Thomas Nyambe, the chef de mission of the Namibian team, said the preparations for the event are at an advanced stage.Nyambe said the team management had done everything on the administrative side as well as preparations for their teams.He said visually impaired athletes, who will participate in track and field, are also in camp, adding that they are expecting the other sport codes, tennis and boxing, to follow suit.He said all the teams must be in camp by June 26.”We have drawn up a programme for our teams on the particular times they will train.The coaches are all geared up and are taking the teams through their paces,” said Nyambe.Nyambe said he was hoping Namibia would successfully host the Games in view of the ground they have covered in preparing for it.”We have done the documentation and verification processes and I am confident Namibia will successfully host the event.We will be carrying out the accreditation procedures soon.We are working around the clock to make the Games a memorable show,” said Nyambe.He said he was expecting Namibia to fare better in this year’s edition.Namibia finished second in the inaugural tournament in Mozambique in 2004 after collecting 25 medals of which 11 were gold, six silver and eight bronze.”I am urging Namibian sports fans to rally behind their teams because these are the biggest games in southern Africa,” he said.Nyambe added that they were expecting 12 countries, since two countries have pulled out of the tournament.The maiden edition in Maputo in 2004 attracted more than 1 300 athletes from 12 countries and a larger turnout is anticipated for this year’s Games.The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the newly built Sam Nujoma Stadium while the Katutura Youth Complex will be used as the netball venue.Boxing will take place at A.Shipena Secondary School hall, with tennis matches at the National Tennis Stadium.The Independence Stadium will host all track-and-field events, while the main basketball venue will be the gym at the University of Namibia.In 2004, South Africa came first after amassing 26 gold medals, 19 silver and 16 bronze pieces.Zimbabwe finished third after collecting 37 medals; nine gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze pieces.Botswana came fourth ahead of Mauritius, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Swaziland and Lesotho.- NampaThomas Nyambe, the chef de mission of the Namibian team, said the preparations for the event are at an advanced stage.Nyambe said the team management had done everything on the administrative side as well as preparations for their teams.He said visually impaired athletes, who will participate in track and field, are also in camp, adding that they are expecting the other sport codes, tennis and boxing, to follow suit.He said all the teams must be in camp by June 26.”We have drawn up a programme for our teams on the particular times they will train.The coaches are all geared up and are taking the teams through their paces,” said Nyambe.Nyambe said he was hoping Namibia would successfully host the Games in view of the ground they have covered in preparing for it.”We have done the documentation and verification processes and I am confident Namibia will successfully host the event.We will be carrying out the accreditation procedures soon.We are working around the clock to make the Games a memorable show,” said Nyambe.He said he was expecting Namibia to fare better in this year’s edition.Namibia finished second in the inaugural tournament in Mozambique in 2004 after collecting 25 medals of which 11 were gold, six silver and eight bronze.”I am urging Namibian sports fans to rally behind their teams because these are the biggest games in southern Africa,” he said.Nyambe added that they were expecting 12 countries, since two countries have pulled out of the tournament.The maiden edition in Maputo in 2004 attracted more than 1 300 athletes from 12 countries and a larger turnout is anticipated for this year’s Games.The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the newly built Sam Nujoma Stadium while the Katutura Youth Complex will be used as the netball venue.Boxing will take place at A.Shipena Secondary School hall, with tennis matches at the National Tennis Stadium.The Independence Stadium will host all track-and-field events, while the main basketball venue will be the gym at the University of Namibia.In 2004, South Africa came first after amassing 26 gold medals, 19 silver and 16 bronze pieces.Zimbabwe finished third after collecting 37 medals; nine gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze pieces.Botswana came fourth ahead of Mauritius, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Swaziland and Lesotho.- Nampa