Wheelchair Basketball tourney a success
The Katutura Youth Centre was a hive of activity on Saturday as the venue of the 2017 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, where a qualified classifier assessed athletes.
The one-day tournament was hailed a success by Bjorn Magg, one of the organisers.
“The tournament was more than I had imagined. We had five teams playing, one of which was an all-ladies team. The competition was tough, as the level of wheelchair basketball is improving quickly,” he said.
Magg told Nampa the spectators created an unbelievable atmosphere, as evidenced by the tension during the finals.
Wheel-Ability Sports Club (SC) Legends beat Oshana Heroes 23-22 points to claim the winner's trophy.
Magg said the next step is to select a national team and raise enough money to compete internationally.
President of the Namibia National Paralympic Committee, Johannes Litwayi, echoed the organisers' view, saying national budget cuts have affected everyone in the country, including sports.
“I would like to thank our sponsors who made this possible, at the same time calling on more companies to come on board and support disability sports,” he said.
Litwayi said their wish is to hold more such events and allow disabled Namibians to showcase their skills, noting there was a big improvement in the quality displayed by the athletes on Saturday.
He expressed hope for more funds that will allow for the selection of a national team to represent Namibia.
The teams that took part in the tournament are Wheel-Ability SC Legends, Wheel-Ability SC Zebras, Wheel-Ability SC Cheetahs (all ladies team), Oshana Heroes and Ohangwena SC.
NAMPA
The one-day tournament was hailed a success by Bjorn Magg, one of the organisers.
“The tournament was more than I had imagined. We had five teams playing, one of which was an all-ladies team. The competition was tough, as the level of wheelchair basketball is improving quickly,” he said.
Magg told Nampa the spectators created an unbelievable atmosphere, as evidenced by the tension during the finals.
Wheel-Ability Sports Club (SC) Legends beat Oshana Heroes 23-22 points to claim the winner's trophy.
Magg said the next step is to select a national team and raise enough money to compete internationally.
President of the Namibia National Paralympic Committee, Johannes Litwayi, echoed the organisers' view, saying national budget cuts have affected everyone in the country, including sports.
“I would like to thank our sponsors who made this possible, at the same time calling on more companies to come on board and support disability sports,” he said.
Litwayi said their wish is to hold more such events and allow disabled Namibians to showcase their skills, noting there was a big improvement in the quality displayed by the athletes on Saturday.
He expressed hope for more funds that will allow for the selection of a national team to represent Namibia.
The teams that took part in the tournament are Wheel-Ability SC Legends, Wheel-Ability SC Zebras, Wheel-Ability SC Cheetahs (all ladies team), Oshana Heroes and Ohangwena SC.
NAMPA
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