Some members of the technical staff and players of the Debmarine Namibia Premiership team, Tigers Football Club, were involved in a car accident on Monday morning while travelling back to Windhoek on the B1 road.
Tigers chairman Nelson Akwenye told Nampa the accident happened in the early hours of yesterday when a suspected tyre burst caused one of the cars used by the team to overturn.
“We had two double cabs and a bus that were travelling in convoy. The accident occurred about 90 kilometres from Otjiwarongo to Okahandja,” he said.
Akwenye added that everyone involved in the accident was in stable condition, apart from Leyton Goliath, who sustained head injuries and was airlifted to Windhoek after being stabilised.
The chairperson pointed out that the lack of rest between matches and long-distance travel immediately after matches is something that needs to be looked at.
“Double headers need to be reviewed as most teams paired together are staying in different towns, making travelling a cumbersome situation. We had a game on Saturday in Otjiwarongo, and immediately after the game, we travelled to Oshakati, which is a lot of driving,” he said.
Akwenye said after their Sunday game, they had to drive back immediately as some players are employed and needed to be at work yesterday morning.
Akwenye called on the league to look into the doubleheader matter as teams are forced to overnight in different towns where they play their Sunday matches a situation that will require a lot of money for accommodation.
“Therefore, double headers need to be looked at, or monthly grants need to be increased to allow time to rest after matches instead of driving immediately, as this is not the first incident this season. Last week, one of the team buses hit a kudu while travelling at night, but lucky no one was injured,” he said.
Those travelling in the double cab that overturned were Tangeni Shipahu, Shane van Wyk, and Goliath, who are players, and Julia Alweendo (team medic), Heikke Amashisha (team manager), Tiro Thlabanello (goalkeeper coach), and Protash Kabwe (coach).
Apart from Goliath, who was airlifted, all others involved in the accident received medical care in Otjiwarongo and Okahandja and will be travelling back to Windhoek. – Nampa