BUDGET CUT

Posted on Tue, 22 Mar, 2011

National Sport

Soccer, boxing budget chopped

Author:

Festus Nakatana

NATIONAL soccer has suffered a considerable cut of about N$1,4 million following the tabling of the national budget in the National Assembly by Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila last week.

Although the total sports budget in the Ministry of Sport has increased by 39% to just over N$80 million, the authorities have decreased its funding of the country’s most followed sporting code from N$8,7 million to N$7 268 000 in the new financial year. Despite the cut, soccer still received the lion’s share of the sports budget allocated to sporting codes.

Boxing has also had to digest an erosion of funds with almost 60% shaved off for 2011/2012. Boxing received N$1 337 000 in the last financial year and only N$538 000 has been allocated to this highly successful sporting code this time around. The total sports budget for the 2011/2012 financial year stands at N$83 882 000 which represents a massive increase of N$23 479 000 from last year’s N$60 403 000.

Over the years, Government has been heavily criticised for its poor funding when it comes to sporting codes and the situation has led to persistent cries for more funding which, rightly so, are set to resurface again in the wake of the tabling of the new national budget. Preparations for and participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games which are just under 500 days away will be allocated N$1 015 000 compared to the N$500 000 allocated last year. Rugby will also receive an additional N$400 000 following the new increase from N$800 000 to N$1,2 million.

There are also slight increases for the Namibia Women in Sport Association (NAWISA) and the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia (TISAN) who will receive N$492 000 and N$3 565 000 respectively. The budget for the Namibia National Schools Sport Union (NSSU) has also substantially increased to N$5 042 000 from N$3 075 000 during the last financial year, while the Sports Fund has been boosted with an additional N$874 000 and now stands at N$6 545 000 in 2011/2012.

The budget for the Zone VI games and other “international association” has been increased to N$738 000 from N$710 000, while only N$200 000 has been allocated for this year’s All Africa Games that will take place in Maputo, Mozambique in September.