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Prepping for Region 5 Games to start in February 

The chief administrator of the Namibia Sport Commission Fred Mwiya. File photo

Namibia Sports Commission chief administrator Freddy Mwiya has warned those entrusted with Team Namibia to kick-start preparations for the AUSC Region 5 Games in February.

Namibia will host the African Union Sports Council Region 5 (AUSC Region 5 Games) in early July with 10 member countries expected to touch down on Namibian soil.

The event is anticipated to be competitive regional games for the crème de la crème of regional sport.

Speaking to Desert FM recently, Mwiya said the Region 5 Games will certainly be the highlight of 2025, and that every hour, minute and second of each day going forward must count for something if Namibia hopes to put on a sterling show at the games.

“Plans are underway from the side of the NSC to spearhead preparations. Team Namibia’s preparation is crucial, and we are thinking of having two to three national training camps in the north, central and western parts of the country.

“There are no two ways about Team Namibia’s preparation. Yes, there is nothing to negotiate on and February is a must to kick off with preparations.”

He added: “We are the regulator and the implementer of any national sport programme, and our mandate is to thoroughly prepare Team Namibia.”

Mwiya, who cut his holiday short due to pressing work-related demands, said the 2025 sport calendar officially kicked off with the official send-off of the senior national indoor women’s and men’s hockey teams to the Indoor Hockey World Cup pencilled for Croatia.

The NSC chief said a directive from the executive director of sport, youth and national service, Erastus Haitengela, is to ensure that funding is given to the sport federation and umbrella bodies to prepare for international competitions.

“Because of that directive, the government has pumped N$ 4.9 million into the national indoor hockey teams’ preparations. We are doing away with the old ways, where you just fund the national teams to travel and compete,” he said.

Mwiya stressed the importance of national teams being inclusive and for sport codes to grow in all corners of the country.

“I think it is high time that indeed we see national teams comprising the demographic of Namibia’s population. It is not just about some sport codes, but all other sport disciplines should be inclusive,” he said.

“I had a meeting with the ministry’s executive director and its acting sport director about transformation in sport, and there is a need for us to design a concept on transformation and eventually have a policy document.

“Once it becomes a policy document, then it will be for the NSC to implement. My office is responsible for the implementation of all programmes and all policy aspects,” he said.

Mwiya said the NSC is looking forward to a productive, result-oriented and goal-driven 2025 to put Namibia’s sport “not only on the continental, but equally on the global stage”.

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