Namibia’s Senior High School Rugby League on Wednesday got a boost of N.dollars 650 000 per annum for the next three years from Standard Bank Namibia.
About 35 schools and 112 teams compete in the High School League, with only eight schools competing in the High School Super League.
The 2022 season of the league will kick off this weekend across the different school venues, with the final matches of the different leagues expected to be played from September to December 2022.
Addressing the media during the sponsorship handover on Wednesday, Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero, said it’s always important to work with those who are willing to assist people while they are juniors as most companies only come on board when athletes are established.
“This senior secondary rugby sponsorship shows that the Welwitschias are in good hands as there will be a pool of players that can always be found to replace those being phased out due to age or performance in the senior national team,” she said.
Tjongarero also called those running the school league to account for every cent that will be used during the competitions.
“This sponsorship should be accounted for because when we don’t account for every cent spent, that is how we lose sponsorships. Let’s make sure that all the senior secondary schools that are playing rugby are reached,” Tjongarero said.
The minister called on the Namibia Schools Sports Union (NSSU) national coordinator, Solly Duiker, to start talking to other countries in the region to start developing rugby leagues at their schools as this will help Namibia weigh themselves with the best in the region.
Meanwhile, Standard Bank Namibia Chief Executive Officer, Mercia Geises, said their bank is a purpose-driven organisation and its purpose is to maximize and create an impact on how every Namibian child lives.
“Namibia is our home and we drive its growth. Therefore, Standard Bank started focusing on the youth with several initiatives such as the hockey development program, the brighter day initiative and now the high school rugby league, which will help in maximizing their potential,” she said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
