Track and field boosted by The Collective

A development platform named The Collective has been designed to identify, nurture and promote Namibia’s top young talent in track and field athletics.

Founded by teacher and sports organiser Hanjo de Klerk, the initiative represents the first attempt to build a centralised, professionally managed ecosystem for the sport in Namibia, bringing together coaching, athlete development, performance data, nutrition and competitive exposure under a single coordinated structure.

At yesterday’s launch, the deputy minister of education, innovation, youth, art and sport Dino Ballotti expressed support for the initiative on behalf of himself and the ministry, while also challenging the organisers to fast-track their vision and to make it work.

De Klerk said: “At its core, The Collective operates through three complementary tiers. The Prime Collective caters to a curated group of selected athletes, each demonstrating elite-level competency in their discipline and a measurable commitment to improvement. These athletes will receive structured, periodised coaching programmes, access to certified nutritionists, strength and conditioning support, and participation in regional and national competitions.

“The second tier focuses on development – targeting athletes operating competitively but not yet reaching the high-performance group and who lack access to consistent coaching. This tier centres on rural coaching outreach, structured coach development programmes, and support for building up regional structures that can sustain year-round progress.

“The third tier addresses one of the sport’s most persistent structural challenges – a fragmented events calendar. The Collective aims to unify the athletics calendar into a coordinated national schedule, moving away from a system where stakeholders pull in different directions.

“By aligning events across regions and age groups, every competition feeds towards a single, powerful goal for the nation.”

First targets

According to De Klerk, The Collective’s talent acquisition strategy spans all regions, while its development programmes will initially focus on four areas with proven athletics potential and institutional infrastructure – Khomas, Erongo, Hardap and Otjozondjupa.

“The platform is aimed at athletes in the under-15, U17 and U19 age categories.”

Beyond athlete selection, The Collective is investing in the broader infrastructure of the sport. Its development programmes include rural coaching outreach to communities where access to qualified coaching is limited. Structured coach development clinics will be aimed to raise the standard of instruction nationwide to sustain year-round athletic progress. Plans have been outlined to develop a pipeline of next-generation coaches through mentorship programmes.

“The Collective exists because we needed a full-scale athletic ecosystem in this country; one that gives our young athletes and coaches a reason to believe that there is something structured and professional to work toward right here at home.

“The current landscape is fragmented, where a persistent lack of centralised management of meaningful cooperation among stakeholders stifles the growth of athletes who deserve better. We are done waiting for change. We are leading it,” De Klerk said.

“This won’t happen overnight, but through relentless consistency and collective action, we are laying the foundation today. We know the road to greatness is a marathon, not a sprint, but by standing together, we will ensure that the future of Namibian athletics doesn’t just stay a dream but becomes a reality.”

Business partner

Ogilvy Namibia has joined The Collective as a strategic business partner, united by a shared belief in the power of sport, talent and impact. Ogilvy is leading brand strategy, identity development and communications.

The Collective is actively building its institutional network and has extended partnership invitations to Athletics Namibia, schools and sports institutions across the country.

“The Collective has outlined an ambitious Vision 2030 agenda aimed at embedding athletics culture across the country, increasing the number of Namibian athlete qualifying for and competing at international events, and positioning Namibia as a regional hub for athletics through the development of world-class training infrastructure.

Leading coaches

Some of the leading coaches who will help drive The Collective have been announced, bringing together a wealth of experience, knowledge and drive.

They include Letu Hamhola (sprints), Karina Theunissen (hurdles), Christene van der Linde (throwing events), Wynand Dreyer (long distances) and Leoni van Rensburg (jump events).