Sanlam Namibia has distributed 450 soccer balls worth N.dollars 150 000 across the country to teams that do not have access to funding or professional sports equipment.

Sanlam’s Marketing & Communications Manager, Denille Rooste, told Nampa on Thursday that it believes there is a lot of untapped potential among Namibian youth due to a lack of funding and professional infrastructure.

“As a country, we are privileged to host so many raw world-class talents, as evidenced by young athletes such as Beatrice Masilingi, Christine Mboma, Jonas Jonas, and Connor van Schalkwyk competing internationally in various sports disciplines. Many of our athletes have the dedication, willpower and discipline to succeed. Sanlam hopes to help these young athletes by giving them opportunities to improve their skills and self-confidence,” she said.

She added that Sanlam’s countrywide soccer ball initiative aims to achieve social impact by using sport as a development tool and that it catalyses social transformation by encouraging participation and bridging national, ethnic, social, and religious divides.

The Oshuungu Annual Tournament, represented by Petrus Hamukwaya, is one of the beneficiaries of this initiative, and he expressed his gratitude to Sanlam, reiterating the value tournaments like these bring to rural communities.

“We can provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs to sell and market their products, instilling pride and unity in these communities. We can also award medals and prize money to the winners, which many people use to support their loved ones. All of this boosts their self-esteem,” he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency