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Pohamba calls on local athletes to perform at C’wealth Games

Pohamba calls on local athletes to perform at C’wealth Games

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba urged the Namibian Commonwealth Games team to compete to the best of their abilities to obtain the desired results when they paid a courtesy call at State House yesterday.

“I hope that you will perform to the best of your abilities and achieve the best results,” he told a delegation of about 40 athletes and their officials ahead of the team’s departure for Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday. The Games will be held in Australia from March 15 to 26.The Namibian delegation is leaving early to acclimatise to the conditions ‘Down Under’.Pohamba said the fact that they have qualified for the Games is an indication that the country continues to produce world-class athletes “who can hold their ground in competition with the best in the world”.”I encourage all of you to do your utmost best in the different codes and disciplines in which you will participate at the games.We expect all members of the Namibian team to display exemplary behaviour,” he said.He added that officials and administrators should ensure that the athletes are provided with the support and amenities they require in order to perform without anxiety and worries.”Our athletes should be well served so that they can concentrate on the task at hand, namely to compete and win,” he said.He said Namibian sportsmen and women who had participated in the Games in the past did the country proud by winning medals and gaining international recognition.”In that manner, they have put our country on the sports map of the world.Therefore, this team should emulate those fine examples set by your fellow citizens,” he said.He singled out the achievements of Frank Fredericks, who is currently serving as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), saying that he is “a great son of the soil”.Team manager Alna Magrieta Similo said she and the other officials had emphasised discipline among the participants.”We have highlighted the importance of discipline and we aim to keep Namibia’s name high on and off the field.We also endeavour to do our utmost best as sportsmen and women at the Games,” she said.Namibia will be represented in eight codes at the Games, with a total of 45 athletes and 15 officials travelling to Melbourne.At yesterday’s gathering, the members of the boxing team were the only ones absent as they are currently in Botswana preparing for the Games.The team is expected back later this week.Sport Minister John Mutorwa also encouraged the participants to compete and win.Namibia’s delegation to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, numbered 70.The largest delegation was the 104 athletes and officials who went to the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada.In 1998, Namibia sent 78 officials and athletes to the Kuala Lumpur Games in Malaysia.The most successful Games for the country were in 2002 when Frank Fredericks won a gold medal in the 200-metre race, while 800-metre runner Agnes Samaria won a bronze medal.Two more were picked up by boxers Joshua Veikko and Paulus Nuumbembe, who both punched their way to bronze medals.Shooters Boeli Malherbe and Friedhelm Sack collected a further two in pistol shooting.In 2002, Namibia also had eight codes representing the country – athletics, boxing, shooting, bowls, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics and cycling.This year, the sevens rugby team has replaced the wrestling squad.For the first time, Namibia will also send an all-women management team, which will be headed by Joan Smit as the chef de mission, Similo as the general team manager and Aily Paulino-Hangula as administrative secretary.The Games will be held in Australia from March 15 to 26.The Namibian delegation is leaving early to acclimatise to the conditions ‘Down Under’.Pohamba said the fact that they have qualified for the Games is an indication that the country continues to produce world-class athletes “who can hold their ground in competition with the best in the world”.”I encourage all of you to do your utmost best in the different codes and disciplines in which you will participate at the games.We expect all members of the Namibian team to display exemplary behaviour,” he said.He added that officials and administrators should ensure that the athletes are provided with the support and amenities they require in order to perform without anxiety and worries.”Our athletes should be well served so that they can concentrate on the task at hand, namely to compete and win,” he said.He said Namibian sportsmen and women who had participated in the Games in the past did the country proud by winning medals and gaining international recognition.”In that manner, they have put our country on the sports map of the world.Therefore, this team should emulate those fine examples set by your fellow citizens,” he said.He singled out the achievements of Frank Fredericks, who is currently serving as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), saying that he is “a great son of the soil”.Team manager Alna Magrieta Similo said she and the other officials had emphasised discipline among the participants.”We have highlighted the importance of discipline and we aim to keep Namibia’s name high on and off the field.We also endeavour to do our utmost best as sportsmen and women at the Games,” she said.Namibia will be represented in eight codes at the Games, with a total of 45 athletes and 15 officials travelling to Melbourne.At yesterday’s gathering, the members of the boxing team were the only ones absent as they are currently in Botswana preparing for the Games.The team is expected back later this week.Sport Minister John Mutorwa also encouraged the participants to compete and win.Namibia’s delegation to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, numbered 70.The largest delegation was the 104 athletes and officials who went to the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada.In 1998, Namibia sent 78 officials and athletes to the Kuala Lumpur Games in Malaysia.The most successful Games for the country were in 2002 when Frank Fredericks won a gold medal in the 200-metre race, while 800-metre runner Agnes Samaria won a bronze medal.Two more were picked up by boxers Joshua Veikko and Paulus Nuumbembe, who both punched their way to bronze medals.Shooters Boeli Malherbe and Friedhelm Sack collected a further two in pistol shooting.In 2002, Namibia also had eight codes representing the country – athletics, boxing, shooting, bowls, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics and cycling.This year, the sevens rugby team has replaced the wrestling squad.For the first time, Namibia will also send an all-women management team, which will be headed by Joan Smit as the chef de mission, Similo as the general team manager and Aily Paulino-Hangula as administrative secretary.

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