Category: Sports

Karasburg-based Young Brazilians (YB) on Saturday suffered their first defeat in the Debmarine Namibia Premierhsip, going down 2-0 to newly promoted Khomas Namibia Police Force (NamPol) in their 2023/2024 campaign.

The game, which was the first premiership game for the season for both teams, took place at the J Stephanus Stadium and attracted a large audience from Keetmasnhoop and its surrounding areas.

Rewaldo Pins scored Khomas NamPol’s first goal in the first 10 minutes of the first half, while the second goal was an own goal by YB’s Melvin Eiseb in the second half of the game.

Speaking to this news agency after the game, Khomas NamPol coach, Fortune Eichab, while extending gratitude towards his players, said his team is ready and well prepared for the league and their aim for the season is just to survive.

“It was a difficult game for us. It is not easy to play an opening game, but it was a good foot to start off the league. What the Namibian nation can expect from us is that we will play good football, it is a difficult road ahead, [but] we are aiming just to survive the season and the maximum goals we are aiming is 24 for our first round,” he said.

On his part, YB team manager, Elrico Smith said, “Our team was not really prepared for this game as some of my players were in Outjo for the NamPol games, so fitness wise we were not at shape, as the game started. We started slow and in the second half I started a new formation, however the boys switched off because they are not familiar with the formation.”

Smith said the team will work on the new formation and will be well prepared for the next game, adding that the team will sign at least two or three new players.

“We had a problem with finances. That is why we could not bring in new players now but now we received our grant so we will sign those new players and bring them on board and you will see them in the next game and we will have a better team and our aim is to end at least in sixth place,” he stressed.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Namibian Correctional Service and Namibian Police Force runners Martha Shivolo and Jeremia Shaliaxwe were crowned as the new champions of the Navachab half-marathon after dominating their respective categories on Saturday.

The ninth edition of the Navachab marathon saw over 600 athletes competing in the 21-kilometre (km) race, the newly introduced 10km race, and the five-kilometre fun walk and run.

Shivolo, representing Namibia Correctional Service and crowned as the women’s champion of the 2023 Nedbank Citi Dash a week ago, once again displayed her dominance by winning the women’s category. She completed her race in a time of one hour, 15 minutes, and 44 seconds (01:15:44).

Namibia’s representative at the recently concluded World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Alina Armas, secured the second position, while veteran long-distance runner Beata Naigambo clinched the last podium spot.

Meanwhile, in the men’s category, Shaliaxwe became the first-time winner of the Navachab half-marathon, an event he has participated in on more than five occasions in the past.

Shaliaxwe finished ahead of his Namibian Police teammate Simon Matias, with Geson Koper from the /Karas region claiming the third position.

In an interview with Nampa after the race, Shivolo mentioned that this is the first time she has competed in a half marathon and expressed her excitement at being crowned the 2023 Navachab half-marathon champion.

“I enjoyed the run today. It was nice competing against the best as they pushed me throughout the race,” she said, adding that Armas provided strong competition on the day.

Shivolo stated that winning this marathon showed her that with hard work, one can achieve their goals. Therefore, she is determined to train hard in the half-marathon category so she can one day represent Namibia internationally.

Meanwhile, Shaliaxwe told this agency that he has competed in the half marathon before, but winning it means a lot to him.

“Since I started competing in this marathon, I have never finished on the podium, and doing it this year means a lot to me. The Navachab half-marathon is challenging as the route is not flat, and you don’t know when to push or slow down, but I am grateful for being crowned champion this year,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The President of the Ni­geria Wrestling Federa­tion (NWF), Daniel Igali, says he is positive of a good out­ing for Nigeria Wrestlers in the forthcoming World Wres­tling Championship.

Igali said this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the camp of the Wrestlers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championship will take place in Belgrade, Serbia from Sept. 16 to 22.

Igali said he was elated with the level of training the Wrestlers had received so far and express­ed optimism that they would distinguish themselves at the world championship.

He explained that with the achievements recorded in wrestling in the last 10 years, he was targeting a medal sweep in Serbia, stating that no sports had done better than wres­tling in Nigeria.

According to him, the records of the wrestling federa­tion speak volumes, adding that the federation is leaving nothing to chance in order to produce a five-star performance in Belgrade.

He added that the delegation consisted of six wrestlers, two coaches, one medical personnel and two officials.

Igali also used the medium to congratulate the new Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan-Enoh on his appointment.

He hoped for a good working relationship with the new minister, stressing his antecedents were quite encouraging as a grassroots man.

Igali, who doubles as the commissioner for youth and sports development in Bayelsa, commended the magnanimous role of Governor Douye and his deputy Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for supporting their camping in Yenagoa.

He noted that the state government had been generous to the Wrestling Federation through their financial support. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Angolan basketball player Sara Caetano is expected to make her debut match at French senior women’s basketball league after joining the Basket Lattes-Montpellier in July.

The 19-year-old, 1.72m tall, signed for the European team in July during Angola’s participation in the African Nations Championship “Afrobasket2023” held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The point guard Sara Caetano had represented the French team ASVEL before joining Montpellier.

The player benefits from a study and sports scholarship as part of the cooperation between the Luanda’s Cazenga basketball team and an institution owned by former NBA player Tony Parker.

Sara Caetano is seen as one of Angola’s most promising players playing in France and the national team.

For example, at the African Senior Women’s Championship “Afrobasket`2023”, held in Rwanda, she averaged 18.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 tackle, 1.0 block in 30 minutes of play.

In 2019, she was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the International Basketball without Borders tournament in Senegal.

Basket Lattes-Montpellier are currently third in the French league with 39 points and have already made two appearances in the Eurocup.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

The immediate past Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, has been commended for bequeathing the National Stadiums in Abuja and Lagos to the present administration in an improved state.

A statement issued on Sunday by Toyin Ibitoye, Dare’s Special Assistant on Media quoted prominent sports enthusiasts and former athletes as commending the minister for the legacies he left behind.

The pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, had been abandoned for close to a decade and was becoming a breeding ground for livestock.

Similarly, the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, had been rendered otiose for much longer with no efforts made to rehabilitate it.

Dare had initiated the “adopt a pitch” programme and attracted the private sector in his aggressive drive to restore both national edifices to their glory days.

Dare Esan, a respected journalist commended the minister for the renovation of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Esan said Dare left the stadiums in a much better state than when he met them when he was appointed Minister of Sports in August 2019.

“For the Lagos Stadium, three key components, the track, pitch and digital score board have been delivered thanks to the adopt a pitch initiative which facilitated the Private Public Partnership (PPP) with the Premier Lotto group and its owner Pa Kensington Adebutu.

The facility has been out of use for over two decades.

“The track, an eight lane tartan track, has been professionally laid and lined. It is a beauty to behold,” Esan added.

Former Nigerian international athlete and sprint queen Mary Onyali, praised the former Sports Minister for restoring her ‘former stomping ground and venue of her many national and international sprint triumphs’.

“I am one of the happiest persons on earth right now with the delivery of the tartan track at the Lagos National Stadium.

“That stadium holds a special place in my heart and I thank Sunday Dare for delivering on his promise to rehabilitate the track and two other components of the edifice”.

The pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was also rehabilitated with water sprinklers installed, to ensure good maintenance.

Also in place were two new digital score boards.

The rehabilitation was bankrolled by the Dangote Group in 2021 under the former Minister’s PPP arrangement with the company.

All Nigerian national football teams have now used the pitch for their international matches after many years of its abandonment.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Long-distance runners Simon Matias and Martha Shivolo were on Sunday crowned winners of the 2023 Nedbank CitiDash Run after successfully outclassing their opponents in the 10 kilometres (km) elite run.

The third edition of the Nedbank CitiDash Run, a sporting event that sees elite long-distance runners as well as friends and families competing in the five and 10-kilometre runs attracted over 2 000 runners.

The race started and finished at Zoo Park on Independence Avenue, opposite the new Nedbank Campus.

The elite race saw Namibia Correctional Service runner Shivolo dominating her field with a personal time of 35 minutes and 02 seconds (35:02). Namibia’s representative in marathon running at the recently ended World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Alina Armas, came second while junior runner Monica Kandjebo who represented Ohangwena Athletics Club was third.

Shivolo’s previous record was 36:00.

Meanwhile, in the male category, the new kid on the track Matias, outclassed veteran runners Jeremia Shaliaxwe and Rainhold Tomas who finished second and third respectively.

Matias completed the 10km run with a time of 32:00 minutes.

In an interview with Nampa after the race, Matias said: “I am happy to have won this race. It was hilly when we were coming back but I saw Shaliaxwe did not have the same energy as when we were going down to the turning point, so I kept pushing and came first,” he said, adding that winning this race is a bonus and motivation for him to keep working hard.

Namibia’s representative in the male category at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in marathon running Tomas, said he found the going tough as his body struggled to respond.

“I only had one week rest after the world champs and then started training again, and I found the going tough, but I hope I will be ready come the Navachab half marathon,” Tomas said.

The winner of the women’s category, Shivolo said completing the race in first position surprised her, but she is happy with her achievement.

“The race was tough due to the hills coming back but I should thank my coach (Robert Kaxuxwena) for the encouragement at training and I ran my personal best today. I am looking forward to future competitions,” said Shivolo.

This year’s Nedbank CitiDash Run also saw wheelchair racers and visually impaired athletes competing, with Roodley Gowaseb and Nico Kharuxab in first and second in that race.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) Netball Club were on Saturday crowned champions of the 2023 MTC Namibia Netball Premier League (NNPL) after finishing at the top of the log standings.

The NCS team outclassed their opponents Namibian Navy from Walvis Bay 48-33 to finish the season with 40 points, while the Namibian Navy finished as runner-up with 36 points and the 2022 Premier League winner Mighty Gunners took the last podium position with 35 points.

To be crowned the League Champions of the MTC Namibia Netball Premiership, the NCS won 20 out of the 22 games they played and drew two games, while the Navy won 18 games and lost four, and Mighty Gunners won 17 games and lost five.

The winner of the MTC NNPL pocketed N.dollars 120 000, the runner-up took home N.dollars 80 000 and third place walked away with N.dollars 40 000.

The 2023 Netball Premier League season saw individual players being rewarded for their hard work and dedication.

Martha Shaambeni of NCS walked away with the midcourt player award of the season, the league defender of the season went to Sunshine Murangi of Otjozondjupa NamPol and the Club Administer of the Year Award went to Wanderers Netball Club Team Manager Lizl Stoman.

All the winners in those categories walked away with N.dollars 5000.

Players that walked away with N.dollars 7000 and an iPhone courtesy of MTC are Anna Casper from the Navy for the top shooter award and overall player of the tournament Venje Maharero from Afrocats Lions.

Teams relegated to their First Division are Eleven Arrows, Northern Fly Baller, Rebels and Fatou.

Speaking during the award ceremony, Netball Namibia President Rebecca /Gaogoses said the MTC NNPL has grown to encompass regions across the whole country.

“With 12 dedicated teams participating, we have witnessed extraordinary talent and fierce competition throughout the season. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the coaches and team leaders who have shown unwavering commitment throughout the year. They persevered, ensuring that our girls received the training they needed and travelled thousands of kilometres to compete in different regions,” she said.

She added that Netball has revitalised the regional structure whilst bringing uniformity to the administration of netball nationally.

“As we bid farewell to the teams that will be relegated, let it be known that this is not the end of their journey with netball. On the contrary, their path forward begins now, as they work to strengthen leagues in their regions and nurture the stars of tomorrow,” /Goagoses said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The national senior rugby team “Welwitschias” is still to realise their dream of winning a game at the Rugby World Cup after going down 8-52 on Saturday at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne, France.

Namibia is in Group A alongside host France, New Zealand, Italy, and Paraguay at the ongoing France 2023 Rugby World Cup in that country.

In their first match of the campaign, the Welwitschias only managed to score a penalty and try through Tiaan Swanepoel and Gerswin Mouton respectively.

Meanwhile, the Italians ran in seven tries, through Lorenzo Cannone, Paolo Garbisi, Dino Lamb, Ange Capuozzo, Hame Faiva, Manuel Zuliani, and Paolo Odogwu.

All the tries were converted by Tommaso Allan who also scored a penalty for his team earlier in the match.

The first half of the match saw the Namibian boys giving it their all as the Namibian side opened the scoring through a penalty, but the Italians bounced back with a penalty and two tries before the Welwitschias also scored their only try of the match for a halftime score of 8-17.

The first half saw the Namibians conceding six penalties compared to their opponent who only conceded two in that half.

In the second half, Italy came out firing on all cylinders as they ran in five tries in that half, but the Namibian team failed to penetrate the Italian defence that was determined to show their strength and dominance.

The fast-paced Italian team continued with their dominance as the Namibians began to tire and ran in more tries to win themselves a bonus point and go top of the group with five points, while the home team France is second with four points.

With a defeat in the opening match, Namibia is bottom of the log with zero points while New Zealand who lost their opening match of the competition 27-13 against France on Friday are fourth also with zero points.

The only team that did not play a game thus far in that group is Paraguay who are third on the log standing with zero points also.

Namibia’s next match at the competition will be on Friday, 15 September against New Zealand at 21h00.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Namibia’s international player Petrus Shitembi said it always feels good to wear the national colours and represent Namibia.

The left-footed football player currently playing for Kuching City in Malaysia has not featured for the Brave Warriors since he last played in the African Nations Cup qualifiers against Burundi in May 2022.

Shitembi, one of the most capped Brave Warriors players with 71 caps, told Nampa on Thursday that he is happy to be back in the squad and looking forward to facing South Africa on Saturday.

“We are looking forward to the match. The boys are in good spirits. My individual goal is always to do my best and try to help the team as best as I possibly can,” he said.

The Namibian dribbling wizard added that as a player, he would like to be remembered on a positive front both on and off the field, noting that “I hope our examples are those that can assist the younger players in realising their potential and ultimately achieving their individual goals and aspirations.”

Shitembi added that their Saturday game against South Africa will be a difficult one which holds a lot of history.

“You know, being neighbours and all, it always turns out to be an interesting encounter, and we don’t expect any different. But we are ready for the match. The technical team has prepared the boys as best as they could and we are looking forward to it and will give it our best,” he said.

The Brave Warriors of Namibia will take on their South African counterparts Bafana Bafana in an international friendly match at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg at 15h00 on Saturday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

est players for the match, which a lot of people were even looking at it that it doesn’t warrant that.

“But don’t forget we still have a very big task ahead of us, which is the World Cup qualifiers, which starts in November.

“After this match we don’t have any time to bring the Super Eagles players together again.

“So it’s imperative for the coach to have the best team at his disposal, so that he can make sure he has a team that can face the next challenge,” he said.

NAN reports that the Super Eagles will commence their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho on Nov. 13.

Earlier, SWAN president, Isaiah Benjamin said the visit was meant to strengthen the synergy between the NFF and SWAN.

“Based on your track records in the football circle even before becoming NFF President, we have no doubt that you will deliver. It will be my joy that we work and achieve success together.

He reiterated SWAN’s commitment to professional and balanced reportage of NFF’s activities, while stressing the need for all hands to be on deck to take football to the next height in the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Namibian athletes who excelled at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games, and the World Para Athletics Championships were rewarded for their hard work on Wednesday.

The Namibia Sport Commission, under the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, has provided more than N.dollars 1 million to reward athletes who have performed exceptionally well in international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games, Special Olympics Summer Games, World Para Athletics Championships and the African Beach Games.

During the media conference in the capital, Namibia Sport Commission Chief Administrator, Freddy Mwiya stated that the implementation of the reward policy is to motivate athletes to work harder towards achieving their goals.

“The waiting period was a challenge, but today we celebrate the ministry’s achievement in providing a significant reward for the athletes,” he said.

Mwiya stated that athletes must perform well and reach the podium to be rewarded for their efforts.

“We look forward to the 2024 African Games as the purpose of the game is solidarity for those sport codes that are limited in numbers. The NSC will do all it can to ensure the reward policy is respected as approved by Cabinet in 2018,” Mwiya said.

The NSC chief administrator also said that Namibia is thus far the third country in the Southern African Development Community, African Union Sport Council Region 5 that has an approved reward policy alongside South Africa and Botswana.

Athletes and coaches rewarded for their achievements at the 2022 Commonwealth Games are para-athlete Ananias Shikongo and his guide Even Tjiuiju; Olympic silver medallist Christine Mboma; marathon runner Helalia Johannes, and cyclist Alex Miller.

Their coaches Letu Hamholo, Henk Botha, Robert Kaxuxwena and Hans du Toit respectively, were also rewarded. Athletes who won bronze at those games received N.dollars 40 000, while their coaches got N.dollars 20 000 each.

For winning at the World Para Athletics Championships, athletes received N.dollars 80 000 each for a silver medal, while their coach Hamholo walked away with N.dollars 30 000 per silver medal.

The silver medals at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships were won by Shikongo and guide Tjiuiju, Lahja Ishitile and guide Sem Shimanda, and Johannes Nambala.

At the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Namibian athletes won gold in cycling, silver in athletics and bronze in 3×3 basketball.

Fimanekeni Hamutenya won two silver medals in 800 metres and 1500m, which amounts to N.dollars 30 000 per medal, while the coach walked away with N.dollars 15 000.

Namibian cyclist Rodney Stewe won a gold medal and was rewarded with N.dolllars 40 000 and his coach Werner Jeffrey got N.dollars 20 000, while the 3×3 basketball team was rewarded with N.dollars 80 000 and their coach received N.dollars 60 000.

The 2023 African Beach Volleyball team received N.dollars 100 000 for their achievements.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Amateur boxer, Tryagain Ndevelo will be leading the Namibian team to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, where they aim to grab slots for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

With 18 Olympic quota spots up for grabs, the Paris 2024 Boxing Africa Olympic qualifier tournament will be held in Dakar from 09 to 15 September 2023.

The Africa qualifier will see the different boxing categories in the men’s division exchanging leather for one quota berth available in each of the seven classes, while two quota spots will be up for grabs in each women’s weight class apart from the 75kg, which only has one spot.

In an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, Joseph Titus Muunda, the team’s manager said they have a good group of boxers and are confident of winning slots for the country at the championships.

“We have trust in the team that we are travelling with. Tryagain (Ndevelo) has been in the game for a while and has competed at the Commonwealth Games and African Games, therefore we are hopeful of winning some slots,” he said.

He added that for the first time, Team Namibia will be accompanied by a female boxer who will be fighting in the 50kg category.

“Our team has prepared well, and we chose the right woman to represent the country. We hope she will give it her all and make the nation proud,” said Muunda, who added that they have an experienced coach that is accompanying the team and will help keep the athletes fit as well as focused for their fights.

The upcoming qualifiers are the second qualifier for Paris after June’s European Games, which saw 44 boxers obtain quota places for their National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

Boxers who fail to earn quota spots in Dakar, will have further opportunities at the two world qualification tournaments; one in Busto Arsizio, Italy, from 29 February to 12 March 2024, as well as Bangkok, Thailand, from 23 May to 03 June 2024.

The Namibia team departed for Senegal on Tuesday afternoon for the Boxing Africa Olympic qualifier tournament with a team comprising of Tsamaseb Albertus (head coach), Muunda (team manager), while the male boxers are Johannes Trofimus (51kg), Tryagain Morning Ndevelo (57kg) and Ipinge Gerhard (80kg). Ndapandula Peyehafo (50kg) is the solitary female boxer in the team.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Nigerian rugby national team, the Black Stallions, have been placed in a dicey pool as the team bids to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games scheduled to hold in Paris, France.

The Olympics will hold from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024 with most of the events taking place at the 80,698 capacity Stade de France, the national stadium of France.

A statement issued on Sunday by Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), stated that Nigeria were drawn to face world number 21, Namibia and world number 33, Kenya.

Nigeria’s Black Stallions who are world number 69 will also face Zambia who are 68 in the World Rugby rankings following the draw for the fixtures released by the Rugby Afrique for the tournament.

The Africa qualifiers will be held from Sept. 16 and Sept. 17 in Zimbabwe and it would be Nigeria’s first Olympics in rugby if the team qualified.

The Black Stallions are expected to take on Shujas of Kenya, one of the strongest powerhouses in African Rugby, on Sept. 16 before taking on Zambia, and the Welwitschias of Namibia.

It would be recalled that the Black Stallions finished second at the pre Olympic qualifiers in Mauritius earlier in the year where they lost to Algeria in the final.

The team lost in the final to Algeria 24-5 having defeated Ghana 24-7 in the opening match before beating Burundi 43 -14 and in the last pool match blew away Congo 43-0.

The Coach Steve Lewis tutored side thrashed Botswana 33-5 to qualify for the semi-finals where they met a highly determined Cote D’Ivoire side who also lost to them 20-12.

The Kenya rugby Sevens team, fondly called Shujaa, a Swahili word meaning courage, confidence, bravery, or heroism, will be aiming for their third consecutive appearance at the Olympics.

Namibia who finished fifth at the last qualifiers are hoping to do better this time around, while Zambia are hoping to rise from their slumber to upturn the table.

For Nigeria, the Black Stallions are hoping to make it to the Olympics after shocking the world in 2014 by qualifying for the Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland with Steve Lewis in charge. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Angola national senior males football team will start the “race” to the 2026 World Cup by facing away Cabo Verde, in November, for Group D.

Angola will also play their second game away, namel with Mauritania, according to the draw made by FIFA.

The third and fourth rounds will be played between 3 and 11 June 2024, with Angola receiving Eswatini and Cameroon respectively.

The fifth and sixth rounds will be played between March 17 and 25, with Angola facing Libya and Cabo Verde respectively, with the latter encounter marking the start of the second leg bout.

Angola face Libya and Mauritania at home between 1 and 9 September.

The qualifying phase for the World Cup ends in October 2025, with Angola facing Eswatini in the ninth round.

The national team close the qualifying stage away against Cameroon.

The 2026 World Cup will take place in three countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.

Angola participated in the World Cup final round in 2006 in Germany.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Minister of Sports Development Sen. John Owan-Enoh has assured of equal attention to para-sports to encourage athletes with physical and intellectual challenges.

Owan-Enoh, who made this known when he inspected facilities at the National Stadium Surulere, commended the athletes’ selfless contributions by winning laurels for Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the minister was at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to assess the state of major sports facilities in Nigeria.

He also visited the National Institute of Sports, the boxing complex, main bowl of the stadium, sports medical centre, indoor sports hall and other facilities.

He inspected the Games Village hostels, Legacy Pitch, Power House, as well as the courts for different sports.

The minister also demanded to see the Para-athletes gym and held a meeting with representatives of the Para-athletes.

A representative of the Para-athletes, who told the minister their plight, also alleged that para-sports that won international medals for the country had been neglected and uncared for.

“We need an estate for the physically challenged; we will like the minister to use his good office to achieve this for us.

“We also need more gym equipment because the ones here are not good again,” she said.

The representative of Para-athletes said they were still waiting for the ministry to release funds for athletes that would be in Ghana for the African Para-athletes Olympics Qualifiers.

“We are yet to have funds released for the trip to Ghana; our athletes are still in Nigeria. The ministry said they didn’t have funds for our trip to Ghana.

“Those participating in the Ghana qualifiers are: Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair basketball, para-table tennis and others,” she said

Responding, Owan-Enoh said he would look into the matter to provide the interventions required.

“Since coming into this facility, I have witnessed a lot of excitements and enthusiasm from the para-sports who have been following my convoy and I am aware of their plight.

“If there are some groups of athletes that have won laurels for Nigeria, anytime they compete, it has to be you people.

“It just appeared that para-sports which is a generic name that you come under has given us more laurels and we will try to make sure that this ministry under my watch will help you.

“We will not treat para-sport differently from others, we will give you that recognition that you deserve, just keep doing your best. I have found out that you have achieved all these because of your commitments,” he said.

Owan-Enoh added that rather than take the commitment of the para-athletes for granted, the ministry would continue to encourage them.

The minister also lauded the organisers of Louis Edem International Basketball Championships after watching part of the ongoing game ongoing at the time of his visit.

He restated that the ministry of sports development would partner with individuals and corporate organisations to promote sports.

“I commend the organisers of this Louis Edem International Basketball Championships for a good job of promoting sports.

“I am here in this facility tour of the National Stadium and I did not plan for this opportunity and to witness a live game of basketball, this is a good one and I am delighted about it.

“It is exciting to watch the game live. I was told that this tournament takes place twice every year and this is the second one.

“This is one of the best private initiatives, an individual’s effort with passion. We appreciate such commitment,” he said.

He further stressed that individuals and corporate bodies with passion for sports would be encouraged to be part of efforts to grow sports in his tenure.

“Fortunately, we have a president who has shown much passion and interest to grow sports to the extent of creating a separate ministry for sports.

“I see no reason that we are not having a running league in basketball in Nigeria. I understand the problem with basketball; how it has been riddled with problems and not just that of federation,” he said.

Owan-Enoh also restated that the ministry would ensure that the running and progress of sports remained orderly, peaceful and conflict-free in Nigeria. (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria