Hamukwaya bemoans medal haul
Team Namibia have so far only acquired two medals at the World Paralympics Championships.
Namibia Paralympics Committee (NPC) secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya says medals have been hard to come by for Namibia at the World Paralympics Championships, because they did not have enough funds to prepare the athletes on time.
The country is being represented by 13 athletes at the championships, which began on 7 November and ends today.
Hamukwaya stressed that other countries Namibia is competing against at the championships are more prepared and have enough financial backing to produce superstars.
So far, Johannes Nambala has won two medals (gold and bronze) for his country at the games currently underway in Dubai.
Former Paralympics champions Johanna Benson, Ananias Shikongo and top prospect Lahja Ishitile have all struggled at this year's event.
“Many of the countries winning medals at this championships have athletes that camp throughout the whole year, preparing for this major event, and also make sure their athletes participate in as many international competitions, while in Namibia our athletes can compete only once a year, if they are lucky,” Hamukwaya said.
He noted it has been difficult to develop athletes from grassroots level, given the financial situation in the country.
Hamukwaya is adamant the country could do much better if all structures run smoothly in the NPC.
He said it has become harder to make these athletes shine, because they are not able to afford the proper nutrition they need during their careers.
“It is the financial backing for these athletes and the NPC during preparations and also funding towards the development of different Paralympic programmes that hamper our performance.
“It is not easy for our athletes, compare to the financial investment that other countries are getting from the corporate world and their governments,” Hamukwaya added.
Earlier this year the directorate of sport was allocated about N$44.5 million of the national budget, and N$5.9 of that amount went to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), which was a N$1 million reduction from the N$7 million the commission received in the previous fiscal year.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
The country is being represented by 13 athletes at the championships, which began on 7 November and ends today.
Hamukwaya stressed that other countries Namibia is competing against at the championships are more prepared and have enough financial backing to produce superstars.
So far, Johannes Nambala has won two medals (gold and bronze) for his country at the games currently underway in Dubai.
Former Paralympics champions Johanna Benson, Ananias Shikongo and top prospect Lahja Ishitile have all struggled at this year's event.
“Many of the countries winning medals at this championships have athletes that camp throughout the whole year, preparing for this major event, and also make sure their athletes participate in as many international competitions, while in Namibia our athletes can compete only once a year, if they are lucky,” Hamukwaya said.
He noted it has been difficult to develop athletes from grassroots level, given the financial situation in the country.
Hamukwaya is adamant the country could do much better if all structures run smoothly in the NPC.
He said it has become harder to make these athletes shine, because they are not able to afford the proper nutrition they need during their careers.
“It is the financial backing for these athletes and the NPC during preparations and also funding towards the development of different Paralympic programmes that hamper our performance.
“It is not easy for our athletes, compare to the financial investment that other countries are getting from the corporate world and their governments,” Hamukwaya added.
Earlier this year the directorate of sport was allocated about N$44.5 million of the national budget, and N$5.9 of that amount went to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), which was a N$1 million reduction from the N$7 million the commission received in the previous fiscal year.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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