Taking Issue With Dr Veii

THIS is a reaction to the views expressed by Dr Veii, the Director of Sports, during the NBC panel discussion on Talk of the Nation on April 23.

I acknowledge the economic fact that Government cannot afford to build/upgrade sports stadiums in all the regions before the 2008 Afcon in Angola or 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This was further proved when Dr Veii responded to a question from a caller as to whether the Government had any intention to build soccer stadiums in Kavango or Caprivi regions because they were neighbouring Angola.His answer was plainly negative and his motivations were that the population densities in these regions are low and the two regions are in the malaria zone.The reasons are unjustifiable.The latest 2001 population census reveals the population density in Kavango region is 4.7 per square km.It is higher than Karas, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Kunene and Erongo.Does that mean the the aforementioned regions also do not meet the requirements to get bigger/better FIFA-standard stadium? If populated density is the prerequisite, why does Ohangwena, the highly population region, not have a single stadium?The good Dr’s reasoning is strange.Malaria zone! What does that have to do with the criteria for FIFA competitions? If so, how did Angola, one of the worst countries for malaria according to the World Health Organisation, outperform Namibia to win the Afcon bid? Is soccer not played in malaria areas? South Africa’s northern province in Polokwane is a malaria area, but will stage some of the World Cup matches.This type of perception (perhaps his personal views) distort the truth and damage the image of the two regions to the whole tourist industry.Please look for other reasons to convince the residents of the two regions in question.Sakka Ngalangi RunduThis was further proved when Dr Veii responded to a question from a caller as to whether the Government had any intention to build soccer stadiums in Kavango or Caprivi regions because they were neighbouring Angola.His answer was plainly negative and his motivations were that the population densities in these regions are low and the two regions are in the malaria zone.The reasons are unjustifiable.The latest 2001 population census reveals the population density in Kavango region is 4.7 per square km.It is higher than Karas, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Kunene and Erongo.Does that mean the the aforementioned regions also do not meet the requirements to get bigger/better FIFA-standard stadium? If populated density is the prerequisite, why does Ohangwena, the highly population region, not have a single stadium?The good Dr’s reasoning is strange.Malaria zone! What does that have to do with the criteria for FIFA competitions? If so, how did Angola, one of the worst countries for malaria according to the World Health Organisation, outperform Namibia to win the Afcon bid? Is soccer not played in malaria areas? South Africa’s northern province in Polokwane is a malaria area, but will stage some of the World Cup matches.This type of perception (perhaps his personal views) distort the truth and damage the image of the two regions to the whole tourist industry.Please look for other reasons to convince the residents of the two regions in question.Sakka Ngalangi Rundu