Gobabis: Teams across various formations and units of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) converged in Gobabis in the Omaheke region for the tenth edition of the NDF annual sports games, which commenced on Tuesday at the Legare Sports Complex.

According to Namibia Press Agency, this year’s edition, themed ‘Shaping Excellence Through Sport,’ will see teams competing in football, netball, volleyball, boxing, catapult, chess, darts, athletics, and pool table. Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Air Marshall Martin Pinehas, in his opening statement shared with Nampa, said the games have contributed significantly to the building of soldiers who are not only physically fit but also well-rounded, embodying discipline, teamwork, and perseverance for the past ten years.

Pinehas encouraged athletes to compete with passion, integrity, and sportsmanship, reminding the soldiers that they are the ambassadors of the NDF and must continue to uphold the values of discipline, respect, and camaraderie in every match, race, and contest. “Let sport continue to serve as a vehicle for shaping excellence, both within our Defence Force and in our broader contribution to nation-building,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the first match played on Tuesday, Dolphin defeated the Signal Regiment, while Otjiwarongo-based 4th Artillery Brigade lost to Defence Head Quarter (DHQ) by a solitary goal in the following match. The Namibian Navy (NN) stunned AD Brigade 3-1 in a high-profile fixture, whereas 26 Brigade clinched victory against Army Battle School (ABS) 1-0.

In the netball competition, NN crushed 4 Artillery Brigade 26-14, Engineer Regiment defeated ABS 22-19, while Log Support Battalion emerged victorious against Signal Regiment by a 31-15 scoreline. NDF Training Establishment overcame 12 Brigade 8-1 in the darts competition, while the Namibia Special Force (NSF) lost to Namibia Air Force (NAF) 3-6. In another encounter, the Navy A team won 7-2 against Recce Regiment, while DHQ defeated Dolphin 9-0.

The games are expected to end on Sunday.