THE year 2014 saw several established and upcoming sport stars spring to the fore, while as usual the administrators were not far behind when it comes to hogging the limelight. The following is The Namibian’s list of 10 biggest news makers of the year:
After a shock defeat against Kenya in their opening group match, Namibia had to beat Madagascar by 53 points in their last match to win the tournament and qualify for the World Cup. They managed that feat in style, starting like a house on fire and running in the tries. By half time they were already leading 63-0. The pressure continued in the second half as they went on to win the match 89-10 to qualify for their fifth successive Rugby World Cup.
As debutants at the African Women Championship, not much was expected from Namibia at the AWC, but they gave it as good as they got, delivering great performances.
They beat Zambia 2-1 in their opening match and then in probably their best match, held the Ivory Coast to 1-1 for most of the match before finally losing 3-1 after conceding two late goals. Against Nigeria they were also in fine form before finally losing 2-0. The huge crowds at Namibia’s matches was another highlight, providing a great atmosphere and helping the Brave Gladiators to perform at their best.
Boxing sensation Jonas Junias Jonas shot to prominence after winning silver for Namibia at the 2014 Commonwealth medalists.
It came as no surprise that the 20 year-old subsequently went on to win the biggest prize on offer at the MTC NSC Sport Awards when he scooped the Sport Achiever of the Year as well as the Sportsman of the Year awards.
Much is expected from the young fighter in 2015, when he will attempt to qualify for and ultimately shine at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Silky-skilled female footballer Zenatha Coleman was arguably Namibia’s most outstanding player at the African Women’s Championship in October, performing with aplomb against Africa’s best. She has deservedly been shortlisted for the Africa Woman Player of the Year award. Such is Coleman’s appeal that her stock has risen to heights previously scaled by sporting greats Frank Fredericks, Harry Simon and Johanna Benson. She is expected to make the move from Namibia’s amateur ranks to a professional setup in the new year.
Black Africa enhanced their reputation as the best football team in the country by winning a record fourth consecutive Namibia Premier League title in June.
Such has been BA’s dominance of the domestic football league that they have set their sights on a record-extending fifth crown. However, they appear to have lost that air of invincibility of late and currently trail African Stars by six points heading into the festive season recess.
Namibian football was thrown into turmoil earlier this year when African Stars took the football authorities to the High Court after they bungled a straightforward disciplinary case, which prompted a warning of a possible suspension of Namibian football from Fifa, who frown upon football disputes being taken to civil courts.
Stars felt hard-done-by when the NPL ruled that their abandoned match, which they were losing 2-0 at the time, against Orlando Pirates be replayed only for eight minutes.
The match was called off due to a power outage at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, with Stars demanding to play the entire match as they bid to maintain their challenge on BA for the title.
The NFA and NPL refused to grant Stars their wish and the matter went to a court. After initially barring Stars from football for two years, the NPL, who later went back on that ruling, and the club finally put an end to their five months feud in early August.
Beata Naigambo had onlookers fearing for the worst as she dramatically collapsed at the finish line during the Commonwealth Games marathon event in Glasgow.
In a painful end to the race, the strong-willed 32 year-old crawled over the finish line to end the race in 11th position. Her determination to finish the race earned her admirers and plaudits world over.
After putting it on hold for years, the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) finally managed to piece together the National Sports Conference, the first of its kind to be held in the country since Independence in 1990.
Held under the theme ‘creating a winning sporting nation’, the conference was focused on addressing the challenges faced by the country’s athletes and how to best maximise resources to uplift the level of sport in order for Namibia to improve its competitiveness internationally.
Frans Mbidi replaced John Muinjo as NFA president after being elected into power during a heated congress in early December. Mbidi’s challenger for the position, Ranga Haikali and his supporters, walked out on the elections, leaving the former Oshana football head to assume Namibian football’s highest position unopposed.
