Mike is a legend

A man who normally hates to take credit for his good work and would rather be behind the scenes, Michael Hamukwaya, has been the pillar of strength and backbone for Namibia’s Paralympics. Many athletes that went on to become world champions and Olympic medallist have gone through coach Hamukwaya.He has devoted his time and career to improving the lives of those who felt helpless and hopeless due to disabilities. Also the secretary-general of the Namibia Paralympics Committee, Hamukwaya has earned his place as one of the best sport administrators of all time.Sometimes the people who do the most work behind the scenes are hardly recognised and remain unsung heroes. About 40 years ago in Zambia, during the liberation struggle, a child was born on 23 December and little did his parents know that he was going to be a star. Growing up as a refugee in a camp in Kwanza-Sul Angola, his passion and desire was always to help those that needed help.After spending many years in exile, Hamukwaya went to Cuba and attended school at the Hosea Kutako and Hendrik Witbooi schools. He fell in love with sports and started participating in various school activities, including helping out a school for special athletes. The Paralympics gaffer stayed in Cuba for over eight years and only returned to Namibia in 1994.Hamukwaya however received a rude welcoming because English was a problem for him and so he had to repeat some classes.As a man who only knew Spanish and his mother tongue Oshiwambo, Hamukwaya repeated grade 11 and 12 so that he could improve his English. He did this at the DOS (Namib High School) in Swakopmund from 1994 to 1996 and finally learned to speak English.As a multitalented sportsman, Hamukwaya was not shy to compete in many sport events at the school and was the first black sportsman of the year in the school history. “After I completed my schooling in 1996, I enrolled with the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) in 1997, where I studied to become an autopathic technician until 1999.“In the late 1990s I was also selected to play for the national basketball team at senior level, but my career was cut short by a knee injury.”The injury did not discourage him and he started scouting for athletes with physical disabilities in northern Namibia.“In 2005, Hamukwaya I selected to become the Paralympics national team coach. I attended a few short courses in athletics in Cairo and at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.“My first coaching experience came when he took Namibia’s first Paralympic athlete Reginald Benade to the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.“Under my guidance, Benade returned home with Namibia’s first-ever medal – a bronze in the shot put event.”Hamukwaya is also a proud holder of an IAAF Level 2 training certificate and is now a well-established coach and trainer.The coach was part of the Paralympics team that brought home Namibia’s first-ever gold and silver medals, as Johanna Benson made history at the 2012 London Paralympics.“My dream has always been to see many athletes with a disability believe that they can do great things if they commit to what they love to do.“There are so many success stories to be told about Paralympics in Namibia because the guys and girls have broken many barriers,” Hamukwaya said. Hamukwaya encourages parents with children with disability to contact his office in order to get them to participate in various activities.Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Mike is a legend

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-07-21

Please login to leave a comment

Mike is a legend

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-07-21

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content