Sports expo goes digital

Limba Mupetami







Windhoek

The Namibia Annual Sports Expo (NASE), which is being hosted by the sports ministry in collaboration with the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), will be held virtually, with interview clips with federation heads airing on the NSC’s media platforms from 10 September until the end of this month.

The expo’s main aim is to professionalise sports in Namibia by showcasing sports, fitness and health industries, with a special focus on locally produced products with the idea to connect with investors.

In 2019, when the maiden event took place, various exhibitors converged at the Independence and Hage Geingob stadiums to showcase some of their sports products.

Last year, the event had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At yesterday’s launch, sport minister Agnes Tjongarero gave the keynote address, emphasising that the NASE comes at a time when the whole world has to change the manner in which they conduct business.

“The global pandemic has definitely left an indelible mark on the world, thus the decision to host this year’s event digitally so as to ensure adherence to the regulations.

“This digital expo will advocate for the prioritisation of sport as one of the major drivers of economic development,” Tjongarero said.

Progress

She urged sport lovers to look back at the history of sport in Namibia.

“You will agree with me that although the road has been difficult, due to a lack of funding, great strides have, however, been made. Namibia has progressed from being a participant in international sports to a more competitive player.

“There has been an upsurge in international performances from the country’s athletes participating internationally. From the exploits of the incomparable Frank Fredericks through the unassuming Luketz Swartbooi, echoed through the hardworking Collin Benjamin, further encapsulated through the explosive Harry Simon, demonstrated through the galloping Johanna Benson and Helalia Johannes, Namibia has always punched way above her weight at international sport arenas,” she said.

Tjongarero added that international boxing rings are filled with sounds of joyful ululations made by the many Namibians who have ascended to great heights of becoming world champions. Similarly, international football fields have borne witness to the unique talents of Namibian footballers.

Unique skill

“Elifas Shivute is fondly remembered at Motherwell in Scotland, so is Razundara Tjikuzu at Werder Bremen in Germany; Mohammed ‘Slice’ Ouseb, Robert Nauseb, Ronnie Kanalelo, Ricardo Mannetti and Henrico Botes are amongst a host of Namibians who had South Africans blowing their vuvuzelas in appreciation of the unique skills these Namibians, brought to the theatre of South African football.

“Even Spain has fallen prey to the unique skills of Namibian footballers, with Zenatha Coleman showcasing her silky talents at Sevilla. Jacques Burger, Johan Deysel, Tjiuee Uanivi and many others have also shown Namibia’s unique talents on the rugby field, clearly indicating that although Namibia has lost the Walvis Bay-borne Percy Montgomery to the Springboks, the country still has many more rugby talents to choose from,” added the minister.

She further called upon corporate Namibia to join the government in unearthing the country’ sporting gems earlier, “so that together we can ensure greater sporting prospects to Namibian athletes”.

“Sport is growing in Namibia and, together, we can do so much more to ensure that the long dream of professionalising sport becomes a reality,”

Tjongarero said.