Hockey receives huge injection
Namib Desert Diamonds has sponsored the national women's inline hockey team to the tune of N$179 000.
The Namibia senior women's inline hockey team received a sponsorship of N$179 000 from Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) yesterday to prepare for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
The team also received national colours ahead of the competition, which will take place from 12 to 19 August and which will also serve as a Commonwealth Games qualifier.
The general manager of human capital and administration at Namdia, Irwin Haihambo, said they see sport as a unifier and want to help develop brilliance in sports which will contribute to it being globally competitive.
“Integrity, passion and commitment are just some of the values cultivated through sport, which benefit young women both on and off the field. “The women's hockey team has been performing exceptionally well and the sponsorship will be for purposes of covering accommodation, meals, training gear, sweater tops and pants, among others,” he said.
Haihambo added that the company had recently established the Namdia Foundation, a non-profit organisation that strives to advance the lives of Namibian people through health, education and sport. “All our social responsibility activities will flow through this organisation and aim to make a meaningful difference,” he said.
Team captain Magreth Mengo said their sights are set on qualifying for Tokyo and the Commonwealth Games.
“The commitment shown by the players has been great. We have proven that we are number one in Africa when it comes to indoor hockey. Now we also want to become number one in inline hockey,” she added.
Mengo said that the squad would maintain discipline and strive to be great ambassadors on and off the field.
She also promised the nation that they would return with a gold medal after the tournament. “We are a small nation, but we want to prove that we can do better,” she said.
The senior men's team will compete in the same competition, but they were not available to receive their national colours.
At the same event, the Namibia Swimming Union also received colours for a group of four junior swimmers who will compete in the seventh Fina World Junior Swimming Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
The competition will take place from 20 to 25 August, with close to 95 countries expected to take part.
The team coach, Janis Stergiadis, said it was pleasing to see young swimmers coming through the ranks.
“I see a bright future for Namibian swimmers.
This particular group has trained very hard and we want to produce the next Frank Fredericks in swimming,” he said. He added that there was hope for at least one swimmer to qualify for Tokyo.
“We have been training for this moment for the last two years in order to improve our team. It was not easy to qualify. Training while holding your breath is not easy, but hard work pays off,” swimmer Ronan Wantenaar said.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The team also received national colours ahead of the competition, which will take place from 12 to 19 August and which will also serve as a Commonwealth Games qualifier.
The general manager of human capital and administration at Namdia, Irwin Haihambo, said they see sport as a unifier and want to help develop brilliance in sports which will contribute to it being globally competitive.
“Integrity, passion and commitment are just some of the values cultivated through sport, which benefit young women both on and off the field. “The women's hockey team has been performing exceptionally well and the sponsorship will be for purposes of covering accommodation, meals, training gear, sweater tops and pants, among others,” he said.
Haihambo added that the company had recently established the Namdia Foundation, a non-profit organisation that strives to advance the lives of Namibian people through health, education and sport. “All our social responsibility activities will flow through this organisation and aim to make a meaningful difference,” he said.
Team captain Magreth Mengo said their sights are set on qualifying for Tokyo and the Commonwealth Games.
“The commitment shown by the players has been great. We have proven that we are number one in Africa when it comes to indoor hockey. Now we also want to become number one in inline hockey,” she added.
Mengo said that the squad would maintain discipline and strive to be great ambassadors on and off the field.
She also promised the nation that they would return with a gold medal after the tournament. “We are a small nation, but we want to prove that we can do better,” she said.
The senior men's team will compete in the same competition, but they were not available to receive their national colours.
At the same event, the Namibia Swimming Union also received colours for a group of four junior swimmers who will compete in the seventh Fina World Junior Swimming Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
The competition will take place from 20 to 25 August, with close to 95 countries expected to take part.
The team coach, Janis Stergiadis, said it was pleasing to see young swimmers coming through the ranks.
“I see a bright future for Namibian swimmers.
This particular group has trained very hard and we want to produce the next Frank Fredericks in swimming,” he said. He added that there was hope for at least one swimmer to qualify for Tokyo.
“We have been training for this moment for the last two years in order to improve our team. It was not easy to qualify. Training while holding your breath is not easy, but hard work pays off,” swimmer Ronan Wantenaar said.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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