Sport remains a stepchild

Despite numerous calls and requests for government to increase its budget allocation to the sports ministry, Wednesday's national budget announcement revealed another cut in funding.The sporting fraternity's pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears once again, with the sports ministry only receiving N$286 million, which is N$2 million less the N$288 million allocated in the 2018/19 financial year.In 2017/18 the ministry received an allocation of N$384 963 000, which was N$106 082 000 less than in the 2016/17 budget, when it was allocated N$491 045 000 for its three directorates - sport, youth and national service. The 2019/20 allocation once again puts strain on the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), as it now has to deal with dishing out peanuts to the country's already struggling sport federations.This is despite calls being made to professionalise sport in Namibia, and while athletes are preparing for major competitions in various codes.These include preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, the Cosafa Cup, the Japan Rugby World Cup, the All-Africa Games, for which close to 50 athletes have qualified, as well as the Tokyo Olympics next year. This is besides the funding that will be needed to send Namibia's high-quality Paralympic athletes to regional and global competitions.NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya certainly has his work cut out for him. Mwiya said the budget allocation disappointed him greatly, as they spent close to two months working on a presentation with consultants.“We spent a lot of time working on the presentation. If you see the motivations we give, you will really notice that we put forth worthwhile projects, which amount to about N$90 million. “But now my hands have really been cut off. I don't know if they even took time to read what we presented. “If you look at the All-Africa Games, how do we prepare these athletes? It's really disturbing,” Mwiya said. He said explaining to federations that there are no funds is stressful, because most of them don't understand. “We are dead, I'm telling you. We had plans to move sport into regions, but now I don't even know where to start.” The administrator also said he has to now sit with sport ministry executive director Emma Kantema-Gaomas to once again make a submission, as they are not sure if they should take part in some of the competitions lined up. The budget allocation has also cast doubt on whether the National Sports Reward Policy will come into effect. The document is meant to provide guidance on how to reward Namibian athletes who deliver stellar performances at local and international events. Funds for this purpose are supposed to be provided by the ministry through to NSC. The rewards are meant for athletes who return with medals from competitions like the Olympics and Paralympics, world championships, Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games, African Championships and Special Olympics. Individual athletes who win gold medals in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are meant to receive N$200 000, while silver medallists will receive N$150 000 and bronze medallists, N$100 000 Money will also go towards team sports, as well as the general preparation of teams.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Sport remains a stepchild

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-01

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Sport remains a stepchild

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-01

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