Parliamentarians talk World Cup

RARE unity prevailed in Parliament on Tuesday as soccer became the topic of debate, with a Nudo Member urging fellow MPs to think ahead to what benefits the 2010 Soccer World Cup and African Cup of Nations could hold for Namibia.

The World Cup will be staged in South Africa and the African Cup of Nations in Angola. When Germany staged the World Cup last year, some soccer teams went to neighbouring countries like Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands for training sessions, attracting crowds and injecting cash into the economies of those countries.”This included tourism, the communication sector, transport, retail and advertising, to mention just a few,” Asser Mbai of the Nudo party told fellow MPs.Similar benefits could come Namibia’s way in 2010 because of its good infrastructure and excellent flight connections, he said.”It is important to prepare for these events without delay and well in advance so that we can best capitalise on them.”I ask that my motion … be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics to research ways to tap from the possible benefits of these two soccer events and present the House with the results,” Mbai said.Debate started forthwith and Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo said he supported the motion of the opposition Member.He pointed out that Government had already established a committee with the private sector and the Namibian Football Association, and that at Cabinet level, Ministers were already discussing how Namibia could best benefit from the football tournaments.Even Deputy Justice Minister Uutoni Nujoma, who seldom lets an opportunity pass to launch verbal attacks against the opposition, was in support of Mbai.”As a former soccer player and also rugby player I want to state that it is time for us as parliamentarians to start lobbying for Namibia so that our country could possibly host soccer teams for their training sessions in 2010.”Recently a Member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) visited me.”I asked him if Namibia could not receive Germany’s national team since Namibia is in such close proximity to South Africa,” he told the House.The debate continues next week.When Germany staged the World Cup last year, some soccer teams went to neighbouring countries like Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands for training sessions, attracting crowds and injecting cash into the economies of those countries.”This included tourism, the communication sector, transport, retail and advertising, to mention just a few,” Asser Mbai of the Nudo party told fellow MPs.Similar benefits could come Namibia’s way in 2010 because of its good infrastructure and excellent flight connections, he said.”It is important to prepare for these events without delay and well in advance so that we can best capitalise on them.”I ask that my motion … be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics to research ways to tap from the possible benefits of these two soccer events and present the House with the results,” Mbai said.Debate started forthwith and Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo said he supported the motion of the opposition Member.He pointed out that Government had already established a committee with the private sector and the Namibian Football Association, and that at Cabinet level, Ministers were already discussing how Namibia could best benefit from the football tournaments.Even Deputy Justice Minister Uutoni Nujoma, who seldom lets an opportunity pass to launch verbal attacks against the opposition, was in support of Mbai.”As a former soccer player and also rugby player I want to state that it is time for us as parliamentarians to start lobbying for Namibia so that our country could possibly host soccer teams for their training sessions in 2010.”Recently a Member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) visited me.”I asked him if Namibia could not receive Germany’s national team since Namibia is in such close proximity to South Africa,” he told the House.The debate continues next week.