Athletes want their share
Eight Namibian athletes are owed money by the ministry of sports for their achievements last year.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
The ministry of sports and the Namibia Sports Commission have still not rewarded athletes who won silverware for Namibia at international competitions last year.
Namibian athletes in cycling, archery, boxing and athletics won medals at championships such as the Africa Games in Morocco, the World Athletics Championships in Doha and the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. Cyclists Tristan de Lange, Alexander Miller and Vera Adrian, archery's Quinn Redding and Adrian Grobler, boxer Jonas Jonas, marathon runner Helalia Johannes and para-athlete Johannes Nambala are owed close to N$910 000 for their exploits. The idea of the reward policy introduced by former sport minister Erastus Uutoni was to improve the lives of local athletes and to encourage and motivate the rest to excel in international competitions.
However, despite this positive talk, Uutoni left office (appointed as minister of urban and rural development) and his position was filled by the current minister of sport, Agnes Tjongarero, while deserving athletes are still not reaping the rewards.
NSC chairperson Freddy Mwiya says the ministry of sport will soon pay the owed money.
Local boxer Jonas says they are struggling as he is unemployed.
“I have been waiting close to a year to receive my money. Nothing is happening. With the Covid-19 pandemic, everywhere you turn, there is just poverty, so receiving the money will really go a long way in helping myself and my family,” he said.
WINDHOEK
The ministry of sports and the Namibia Sports Commission have still not rewarded athletes who won silverware for Namibia at international competitions last year.
Namibian athletes in cycling, archery, boxing and athletics won medals at championships such as the Africa Games in Morocco, the World Athletics Championships in Doha and the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. Cyclists Tristan de Lange, Alexander Miller and Vera Adrian, archery's Quinn Redding and Adrian Grobler, boxer Jonas Jonas, marathon runner Helalia Johannes and para-athlete Johannes Nambala are owed close to N$910 000 for their exploits. The idea of the reward policy introduced by former sport minister Erastus Uutoni was to improve the lives of local athletes and to encourage and motivate the rest to excel in international competitions.
However, despite this positive talk, Uutoni left office (appointed as minister of urban and rural development) and his position was filled by the current minister of sport, Agnes Tjongarero, while deserving athletes are still not reaping the rewards.
NSC chairperson Freddy Mwiya says the ministry of sport will soon pay the owed money.
Local boxer Jonas says they are struggling as he is unemployed.
“I have been waiting close to a year to receive my money. Nothing is happening. With the Covid-19 pandemic, everywhere you turn, there is just poverty, so receiving the money will really go a long way in helping myself and my family,” he said.
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