Windhoek: Vice-President Lucia Witbooi has urged Namibia's Unified Gladiators to continue striving for excellence after winning gold in the Women's Division Two category at the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup in Paris, France, over the weekend. Witbooi made the remarks during the team's welcoming ceremony in Windhoek on Monday, which was attended by government officials, including Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Dino Ballotti, and members of the public.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Namibia secured the title after defeating Egypt 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time. 'To our champions, I encourage you to continue striving for excellence. Wear this gold medal with humility, knowing that you have become ambassadors not only for Namibian sport, but also for inclusion, hope, and unity,' Witbooi said. 'When athletes with and without intellectual disabilities compete together as equals, they demonstrate that our differences should never limit our potential,' she added.
Witbooi said the Unified Gladiators' achievement had inspired the nation and reminded Namibians that there are no boundaries to excellence and that anything is attainable through dedication and teamwork. The Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup is an international tournament that brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete on the same teams. The tournament, now in its third edition, was first held in Chicago, United States of America, in 2018.
Namibia began its campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Guatemala and playing to a 1-1 draw against the United States of America in the group stage. The Unified Gladiators then defeated hosts France 5-2 in the knockout stage to book their place in the final, where they overcame Egypt to claim the gold medal.
Unified Gladiators coach Eliazer Amuthitu said the tournament presented several challenges, but was a valuable experience for the team. 'The tournament was not a walk in the park, as it presented different challenges, but overall, it was a great experience for the girls,' he said. Team captain Kristofina Benyameni said the players had made a commitment before departing for France and were proud to have fulfilled their promise by returning home with the gold medal.