Wheels oiled for inline hockey world champs

IN a fabulous display of technique, skill and speed, the Namibian national inline hockey team whipped the crowds into a cheer of solidarity against an invitational side from South Africa at the Cazadores Inline Hockey Club’s tournament recently.

The national team won 12-2 in matches that were played at the DHPS rink in Windhoek. Namibia Sports Commissioner Ben //Naobeb officiated at the colours ceremony before the game.Spectators were treated to a further highlight when the national team faced off against a carefully selected All Star team.Visiting players and coaches from Russia, Slovenia, Germany, America and Canada teamed up with Namibians to give the national team a run for the puck.What proved to be a nail-biting game also proved to be an invaluable lesson for team Namibia.Namibian assistant coach, Mario Troha, who like head coach Phil Boudreault has participated in past world championships, agreed that it was vital to set up games with sporting players of world-class calibre to enable the young team to prepare for what lies ahead in Budapest.Similar games have been set up against top teams in Passau, Germany, where the team will train for a week before travelling on to Hungary.”In a country with no history of either inline or ice hockey, it can be considered an incredible feat that this huge land with its relatively small population and hence limited player choices can once again field a team to face off against the world’s greats,” says Russell Vinjevold, President of the Namibia Ice and Inline Hockey Association (NIIHA).Despite limited facilities and a lack of funds compared to other participating countries, Vinjevold said Namibian athletes have already shown in Finland last year that they have the stamina, fitness and skill to challenge countries like Great Britain, Japan, Argentina, Chinese Taipei and Brazil.Not only did they automatically re-qualify for this year’s World Championships, but also managed to bring home the Fair Play Trophy.”This is an achievement Namibia can be proud of,” said Vinjevold.After all the hard and disciplined training plus the experience gained from the 2005 World Championships, team manager, Ulrike Rodenwoldt is confident that Namibia is in a position to improve on its world ranking (currently 14th) and to earn one of the three coveted medals in the B-Pool.”Now we only need enough funds to get there,” she said.Fundraising has been a top priority of NIIHA while members, players and parents have tackled a number of successful projects to make participation in Budapest possible.While companies such as LTU, Dunlop, Kuehne & Nagel, Scientific Veterinary Diets and Swakopmund Wine Cellars have generously contributed towards making team Namibia’s presence at the World Championship a reality, the financial target has not yet been reached.Sixteen of Namibia’s top athletes, with team manager, Ulrike Rodenwoldt, tour managers Tom Mutavdzic and Arndt Asmus, and coach Phil Boudreault will depart for Budapest, Hungary, on June 30 to participate at the IIHF Inline Hockey World Championships from July 8 to 16.Anyone interested in assisting the National Team can contact Tour Manager Tom Mutavdzic on 081 128 0496.- ContributedNamibia Sports Commissioner Ben //Naobeb officiated at the colours ceremony before the game. Spectators were treated to a further highlight when the national team faced off against a carefully selected All Star team. Visiting players and coaches from Russia, Slovenia, Germany, America and Canada teamed up with Namibians to give the national team a run for the puck. What proved to be a nail-biting game also proved to be an invaluable lesson for team Namibia.Namibian assistant coach, Mario Troha, who like head coach Phil Boudreault has participated in past world championships, agreed that it was vital to set up games with sporting players of world-class calibre to enable the young team to prepare for what lies ahead in Budapest. Similar games have been set up against top teams in Passau, Germany, where the team will train for a week before travelling on to Hungary.”In a country with no history of either inline or ice hockey, it can be considered an incredible feat that this huge land with its relatively small population and hence limited player choices can once again field a team to face off against the world’s greats,” says Russell Vinjevold, President of the Namibia Ice and Inline Hockey Association (NIIHA). Despite limited facilities and a lack of funds compared to other participating countries, Vinjevold said Namibian athletes have already shown in Finland last year that they have the stamina, fitness and skill to challenge countries like Great Britain, Japan, Argentina, Chinese Taipei and Brazil. Not only did they automatically re-qualify for this year’s World Championships, but also managed to bring home the Fair Play Trophy.”This is an achievement Namibia can be proud of,” said Vinjevold. After all the hard and disciplined training plus the experience gained from the 2005 World Championships, team manager, Ulrike Rodenwoldt is confident that Namibia is in a position to improve on its world ranking (currently 14th) and to earn one of the three coveted medals in the B-Pool.”Now we only need enough funds to get there,” she said.Fundraising has been a top priority of NIIHA while members, players and parents have tackled a number of successful projects to make participation in Budapest possible. While companies such as LTU, Dunlop, Kuehne & Nagel, Scientific Veterinary Diets and Swakopmund Wine Cellars have generously contributed towards making team Namibia’s presence at the World Championship a reality, the financial target has not yet been reached. Sixteen of Namibia’s top athletes, with team manager, Ulrike Rodenwoldt, tour managers Tom Mutavdzic and Arndt Asmus, and coach Phil Boudreault will depart for Budapest, Hungary, on June 30 to participate at the IIHF Inline Hockey World Championships from July 8 to 16.Anyone interested in assisting the National Team can contact Tour Manager Tom Mutavdzic on 081 128 0496.- Contributed