Netball dream in jeopardy
A lack of funds is standing in the way of Namibian tertiary students realising their dream of competing at the World University Netball Championships in Uganda.
The Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia (Tisan) needs N$140 000 to compete at the 2018 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Netball Championships next month.
This year's championships will be held in Kampala, Uganda from 17 to 21 September.
Tisan secretary-general Rudolph Haingura, who is also a Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) commissioner, said they have selected a squad of 15 players to compete at the games, but the lack of funds will keep them from realising their dream of competing at the world university champs.
Haingura said the money is needed to pay for their flight tickets to Uganda. “We want to improve on our ranking at the university championship and this can only happen if the team competes at the games in September,” he said. The team also needs tracksuits and T-shirts. South Africa, Burundi, Kenya, Singapore, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia have confirmed their participation.
Haingura said the championship is also important to help Namibian athletes gain more international exposure.
“I was in Zambia at the just-ended African netball championship and I saw that most of the teams that competed at those games had university students. It's really important for our athletes to compete as it will help them gain international experience which will in turn help our senior national netball team,” he said.
The team hopes to depart for Uganda on 15 September and they are therefore calling on companies and private individuals to help them fulfil their commitment to the FISU.
NAMPA
This year's championships will be held in Kampala, Uganda from 17 to 21 September.
Tisan secretary-general Rudolph Haingura, who is also a Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) commissioner, said they have selected a squad of 15 players to compete at the games, but the lack of funds will keep them from realising their dream of competing at the world university champs.
Haingura said the money is needed to pay for their flight tickets to Uganda. “We want to improve on our ranking at the university championship and this can only happen if the team competes at the games in September,” he said. The team also needs tracksuits and T-shirts. South Africa, Burundi, Kenya, Singapore, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia have confirmed their participation.
Haingura said the championship is also important to help Namibian athletes gain more international exposure.
“I was in Zambia at the just-ended African netball championship and I saw that most of the teams that competed at those games had university students. It's really important for our athletes to compete as it will help them gain international experience which will in turn help our senior national netball team,” he said.
The team hopes to depart for Uganda on 15 September and they are therefore calling on companies and private individuals to help them fulfil their commitment to the FISU.
NAMPA
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