Three Namibians graduate as coaches

THE Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture on Tuesday welcomed back the first three Namibian students who have graduated as sports instructors in Cuba.

The graduates, Sackaria Natangwe Mwala, Toini Kasheeta and Engelhardt Oaseb, completed a six-year course at the International School of Physical Education and Sports in Havana and are all fluent in Spanish. Although the course entails all sports disciplines, Mwala has specialised in boxing, Kasheeta specialised in track and field and Oaseb in volleyball.Five other Namibians are still busy with sports studies in Cuba.At a small graduation party organised by the ministry for the graduates and their families on Tuesday, Deputy Sport Minister Pohamba Shifeta congratulated the coaches on their achievements.Shifeta said that once they are deployed, they should make sure that Namibia has its own people with expertise to run local sports development programmes in future.Since Independence, Namibia has relied on Cuban expertise to assist in the development of sport.Shifeta said the programme had been successful, as the country now had many youngsters who were doing well in various sports disciplines.He added that the Namibian Government had made sports part of its national policies by creating an enabling environment for Namibians to participate in sport.Shifeta also expressed hope that Namibia would in the near future establish a sports school where its own experts could be developed.Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mwala expressed their appreciation to the Namibian Government for the assistance and services rendered to them.NampaAlthough the course entails all sports disciplines, Mwala has specialised in boxing, Kasheeta specialised in track and field and Oaseb in volleyball.Five other Namibians are still busy with sports studies in Cuba.At a small graduation party organised by the ministry for the graduates and their families on Tuesday, Deputy Sport Minister Pohamba Shifeta congratulated the coaches on their achievements.Shifeta said that once they are deployed, they should make sure that Namibia has its own people with expertise to run local sports development programmes in future.Since Independence, Namibia has relied on Cuban expertise to assist in the development of sport.Shifeta said the programme had been successful, as the country now had many youngsters who were doing well in various sports disciplines.He added that the Namibian Government had made sports part of its national policies by creating an enabling environment for Namibians to participate in sport.Shifeta also expressed hope that Namibia would in the near future establish a sports school where its own experts could be developed.Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mwala expressed their appreciation to the Namibian Government for the assistance and services rendered to them.Nampa