Govt calls out corporates
The sports ministry is once again pleading with corporate Namibia to come to the party and support local sport financially.
Sports ministry director Jo-Ann Manuel has strongly urged corporate Namibia to assist the government with sport development.
Manuel said at a media conference this week there so many companies in Namibia, but only a few are directly involved with sport.
“I can tell you that there is no money in the government and that is why we need corporate Namibia to support teams and individuals.
“We must shy away from the tendency of only becoming visible when the athlete or team performs well, but we must be there from the start.
“There are so many people out there that need our support and government will not be able to provide support alone,” Manuel said.
She added that sport can be a tool to reduce poverty in the country.
“I would, however, like to thank all the companies that remain committed to sport, despite these difficult economic times. Namibia is a country blessed with talent and only the ministry through the support of corporate Namibia can unleash that.
“We had athletes who did well at the African Games after finishing in the top 16 out of over 50 countries.
“Recently, we had Helalia Johannes who won a bronze medal at the world athletics championship which is proof that there is talent,” Manuel added. Sports in Namibia has remained the stepchild of the government as far as budget allocations are concerned.
The sports ministry only received N$286 million in the 2019/20 financial year, which was N$2 million less the N$288 million allocated in 2018/19.
In 2017/18 the ministry received an allocation of N$384 963 000, which was N$106 082 000 less than in 2016/17, when it was allocated N$491 045 000 for its three directorates - sport, youth and national service.
The school sporting fraternity was also dealt a big blow when the ministry announced there are no funds to implement various international sport programmes planned by the Namibia School Sports Union (NSSU) this year.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Manuel said at a media conference this week there so many companies in Namibia, but only a few are directly involved with sport.
“I can tell you that there is no money in the government and that is why we need corporate Namibia to support teams and individuals.
“We must shy away from the tendency of only becoming visible when the athlete or team performs well, but we must be there from the start.
“There are so many people out there that need our support and government will not be able to provide support alone,” Manuel said.
She added that sport can be a tool to reduce poverty in the country.
“I would, however, like to thank all the companies that remain committed to sport, despite these difficult economic times. Namibia is a country blessed with talent and only the ministry through the support of corporate Namibia can unleash that.
“We had athletes who did well at the African Games after finishing in the top 16 out of over 50 countries.
“Recently, we had Helalia Johannes who won a bronze medal at the world athletics championship which is proof that there is talent,” Manuel added. Sports in Namibia has remained the stepchild of the government as far as budget allocations are concerned.
The sports ministry only received N$286 million in the 2019/20 financial year, which was N$2 million less the N$288 million allocated in 2018/19.
In 2017/18 the ministry received an allocation of N$384 963 000, which was N$106 082 000 less than in 2016/17, when it was allocated N$491 045 000 for its three directorates - sport, youth and national service.
The school sporting fraternity was also dealt a big blow when the ministry announced there are no funds to implement various international sport programmes planned by the Namibia School Sports Union (NSSU) this year.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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Namibian Sun
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