The programme “German Football Ambassador” has nominated Klaus Stärk (technical manager of the Namibia Football Association) for the first prize in 2014.
On 9 December 2013, Stärk received the nomination documents together with the prize money at a function at the NFA Soccer House in Katutura.
In attendance were Roland Bischof, initiator of the award, André Scholz, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Namibia and players from the U15, U20 and senior women's national football teams.
Stärk has been working for the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Federal Foreign Office in Namibia since 2008. He is primarily involved in supporting youth and women’s football but is also a football coach and engaged in referee training.
Under his direction, a youth league was introduced and structures for the football association were built and strengthened. Since then, the enormous enthusiasm for football among the population of Namibia has risen even further. In 2014 the Africa women’s championship will be hosted in Namibia.
Klaus Stärk felt very surprised but at the same time honoured by the nomination.
“It is very rewarding if the work one performs is recognised and appreciated. All my colleagues who work abroad and perform similar work also deserve the nomination. I am supported by very competent partners such as the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the Federal Foreign Office and the German Football Association for which I am very grateful,” he said.
The “German Football Ambassador” honours German coaches and players for their sporting and social commitments abroad and at the same time supports different projects in their respective countries. With “Galz and Goals” Klaus Stärk supports women‘s football in Namibia.
“With our project we have won numerous international prizes and are the leaders in the development of women’s football in Africa,“ he said.
Subsequent to training in Germany, Stärk coached teams in Lebanon, South Africa and Kazakhstan. He was also the national team coach of Afghanistan from 2005 to 2008 where he contributed important and enduring work in youth and women's football. He also led several coaching and refereeing courses worldwide which were supported by the German Football Association, the DOSB and the Federal Foreign Office.
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