NAMIBIA will not participate in the Southern Region Half-Marathon Championships, which will be held in the Seychelles on Saturday.
Namibia did not send a team last year either, allegedly because of internal squabbles between the Athletics Namibia President Alpha Kangueehi and some of Namibia’s best athletes because of poor catering on previous tours. Some of those top athletes also refused to take part in the event when Namibia hosted it in Walvis Bay in 2003, citing the absence of national colours for them.AN Secretary-General Elizabeth Kamutuezu says Namibia’s absence this year is due to the ongoing investigation into athletics by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC).Kamutuezu said because of the investigation, all NSC funding to the union has been stopped.The NSC launched an investigation in September after the commission was showered with complaints from several stakeholders, who accused the athletics bosses of incompetence.Approached for comment, NSC Chief Administrator Rusten Mogane yesterday said that no funding would be given to AN for international participation until the report of the probe has been tabled before the NSC Council by the end of November.Mogane said a meeting was due late yesterday with some of the AN executive committee members to verify information the investigation committee has received from athletes on their regional visits.Another reason why funding was ceased was because AN has not submitted its audited financial reports to the NSC, Mogane said.Instead, AN will now focus its energies on the upcoming regional track-and-field series which will be held at Walvis Bay this Saturday.Kamutuezu said Bank Windhoek confirmed their sponsorship of the series.An Athletics Namibia Council meeting is also scheduled at the town on the same day.Meanwhile, AN has announced the preliminary team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in March.Kangueehi said the athletes will compete in regional championships in Windhoek on January 15.The last meet will take place in Maun, Botswana, at the end of January where Namibian athletes will compete against opponents from Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.The team will finally be trimmed down to 14 athletes.The preliminary squad is: Men – Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (200m), Frank Puriza (200m & 400m), Benedictus Botha (100m), Chriswell de Wee (100m), Horatius Abraham (400m), Luketz Swartbooi (marathon), Reinholdt Iita (marathon), Frans Hosea (800m), Bacilius Karupu (400m), Silvester Nauta (100m & 200m) and Kapena Rukero (400m) Women – Silba Tjingaete (400m), Agnes Samaria (800m), Tjipekapora Herunga (400m), Globine Mayova (200m &400m), Uakuna Rukero (200m), Beata Naigambo (marathon) and Hilaria Johannes (marathon) The team managers are: Lucky Gawanab, Abraham So-oabeb and Theo Tjiueza.-NampaSome of those top athletes also refused to take part in the event when Namibia hosted it in Walvis Bay in 2003, citing the absence of national colours for them.AN Secretary-General Elizabeth Kamutuezu says Namibia’s absence this year is due to the ongoing investigation into athletics by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC).Kamutuezu said because of the investigation, all NSC funding to the union has been stopped.The NSC launched an investigation in September after the commission was showered with complaints from several stakeholders, who accused the athletics bosses of incompetence.Approached for comment, NSC Chief Administrator Rusten Mogane yesterday said that no funding would be given to AN for international participation until the report of the probe has been tabled before the NSC Council by the end of November.Mogane said a meeting was due late yesterday with some of the AN executive committee members to verify information the investigation committee has received from athletes on their regional visits.Another reason why funding was ceased was because AN has not submitted its audited financial reports to the NSC, Mogane said.Instead, AN will now focus its energies on the upcoming regional track-and-field series which will be held at Walvis Bay this Saturday.Kamutuezu said Bank Windhoek confirmed their sponsorship of the series.An Athletics Namibia Council meeting is also scheduled at the town on the same day.Meanwhile, AN has announced the preliminary team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in March.Kangueehi said the athletes will compete in regional championships in Windhoek on January 15.The last meet will take place in Maun, Botswana, at the end of January where Namibian athletes will compete against opponents from Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.The team will finally be trimmed down to 14 athletes.The preliminary squad is: Men – Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (200m), Frank Puriza (200m & 400m), Benedictus Botha (100m), Chriswell de Wee (100m), Horatius Abraham (400m), Luketz Swartbooi (marathon), Reinholdt Iita (marathon), Frans Hosea (800m), Bacilius Karupu (400m), Silvester Nauta (100m & 200m) and Kapena Rukero (400m) Women – Silba Tjingaete (400m), Agnes Samaria (800m), Tjipekapora Herunga (400m), Globine Mayova (200m &400m), Uakuna Rukero (200m), Beata Naigambo (marathon) and Hilaria Johannes (marathon) The team managers are: Lucky Gawanab, Abraham So-oabeb and Theo Tjiueza.-Nampa
