New homemade fits for Warriors, Gladiators

Tim Ekandjo, “a football-loving patriot” says he felt compelled to act when approached to come the aid of the resource-starved Brave Warriors and Brave Gladiators.

He said this when handing over a donation of homemade apparel to the teams yesterday.

He said it was a no-brainer when the late Namibia Football Association (NFA) secretary general, Charles Siyauya, reached out to him asking for help with finding a solution to the national teams’ attire shortage.

Namibian teams currently have uniform attire and the kits are worn, a situation that chips away at their identity and confidence, Ekandjo said.

“He [Siyauya] also explained to me that at the moment, the teams are actually sharing a kit. I thought it was a joke. So, I met with him and he explained to me what the situation is,” he said.

“I thought it was important for a national team or national teams to have a respectful identity, not just on the field, but off the field as well. What is important also was to make sure that the team is uniformed head to toe.”

Ekandjo said the national teams already have it bad by playing their home matches abroad, thousands of kilometres away from their support base due to the continued absence of international standard venues in the country.

“The girls and boys need all the encouragement they need. So, I took it upon myself and a few friends to raise the amount of money that was needed to give them respectable identities.”

Ekandjo’s philanthropic friends are businessmen Amos Shiyuka and Johnny Doeseb, plus NFA spokesperson Isack Hamata.

“So, I would like to thank the three gentlemen for making those contributions to make this day possible. Thank you very much. We look forward to seeing the teams participate in their new kit,” Ekandjo said.

“I know that when you put on a new kit, you get inspired performances. The team feels much better. They are confident.”

Deputy sport minister Dino Ballotti commended Ekandjo and co for their effort, saying it showed strong patriotism.

“Our national teams are more than just football teams. They are collective symbols of hope and national pride,”said Ballotti, who pledged 20 units of 10litre paint to coat the NFA Football House and the adjacent NFA Technical Centre.

“And so, I cannot agree more, Mr Ekandjo, when you speak of uniformity that can just give you that little bit of an edge. Thank you for this selfless act of patriotism. This donation is a true investment in national pride and for a beautiful game.”

The new attire is procured at a cost of N$450 000 from Namibian sport apparel suppliers 90 Minutes, who have designed four sets each for both senior national sides.

The consignment consists of kits for playing and training, off-field clothing, bags, sneakers and water bottles. Replicas for supporters will follow shortly.

“I would like to thank 90 Minutes for coming on board and giving us a very good quality kit,” Ekandjo said.

“I would also like to thank 90 Minutes for their flexibility, but also for their commitment to have a relationship with the NFA; not just now, but going forward, because you also have junior national teams that need to be sorted out.”

NFA executive council member Michael Situde said the donation was timely and would greatly enhance the teams’ confidence.

“This is a very proud moment for the NFA. It says that ‘we need to do this for our country’,” Situde said.

“You know, this is something that has come to NFA when we really need it,” he continued.

“It was all over social media that the shorts they [players] were wearing was a different brand from the shirts.

“It’s a big boost for the Gladiators, who will be fighting for their qualification for Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations] soon, and the Warriors are fighting for qualification to the World Cup,” Situde said.

“The Brave Warriors have an invitation from South Africa to play them in June, and for the team to play in beautiful attire like the ones we are wearing today, it’s just something for which we must say thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts,” he said.