Namibian sports is at a crossroads, where ambition and talent are stifled by systemic neglect. 

Namibians must decide whether to maintain the status quo, which benefits no one in the greater scheme of things, or carve a new path for us, wherein the majority, particularly athletes who labour through blood, sweat and tears, can finally reap their deserved fruits. 

Despite the unwavering determination of our athletes, they continue to face an uphill battle, struggling against financial constraints, inadequate facilities, and a lack of structured development. 

In the 2024/25 financial year, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service received a 45.3% budget increase, bringing the total allocation to N$679.4 million. At face value and at first glance, this may seem like a positive step. 

But a deeper dive shows that the increase is a mere drop in the ocean and glaringly insufficient when split between the competing needs of youth development and the sports sector. 

The reality remains stark: most athletes are forced to abandon their dreams due to financial instability, seeking alternative careers to survive. 

Namibia’s sports infrastructure is falling apart. The absence of a single stadium that meets Fifa standards is embarrassing, to say the least. To add salt to the wound, our national teams are left to play ‘home’ matches on foreign soils, robbing local fans of the opportunity to support their teams at home, as things ought to be. 

It is disheartening that, in a nation with such a rich sporting spirit, athletes are denied the fundamental right to perform on proper grounds. There are glimpses of hope. The Ongos Valley project promises a 30 000-seater stadium near Katutura, while the Rundu Town Council has provided land for a football centre in the Kavango East region. However, these projects are merely patches on a deep wound. 

Without a fully-integrated approach to sports infrastructure, including the establishment of a high-performance centre, Namibia will continue to lag behind its regional counterparts. 

The athletes deserve better – access to elite training, medical care, and modern sports science to unlock their full potential. 

Moreover, financial mismanagement continues to plague the sector. 

While athletes and grassroots programmes struggle to secure funding, the sports ministry has opted to rent a building from businessman Erastus ‘Chicco’ Shapumba at an exorbitant N$1 million for the next three years. 

This reckless expenditure raises questions about priorities. Instead of investing in a permanent solution, such as a dedicated sports complex, the government squanders funds that could be used to uplift the very athletes they claim to support. Botswana and South Africa have taken decisive steps to build their own sports facilities – why is Namibia not following suit? 

South Africa serves as a benchmark for sports success in the region due to its strategic investment in infrastructure, athletes development, and funding. The country boasts world-class stadiums, including those built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, ensuring that teams can train and compete on home soil. 

In contrast, Namibia lacks even a single Fifa-approved stadium. 

Additionally, South Africa has multiple high-performance centres, such as the High-Performance Centre in Pretoria, which provides athletes with access to sports science, physiotherapy, and elite coaching. Namibia, however, has no such facilities, limiting the growth and international competitiveness of its athletes. 

South Africa also benefits from greater corporate sponsorships and government investment in grassroots programmes. This ensures that young athletes receive proper training from an early age, unlike in Namibia, where talent identification and development programmes remain underfunded and sporadic. 

With President-elect Netumbo Nandi- Ndaitwah set to assume the highest office in the land, Namibians will hold on to her promises to prioritise sports development in general and youth empowerment in particular. Words must translate into action. There should be a clear, executable plan that ensures infrastructural development, increased funding, and long-term strategies to foster talent from the grassroots level to elite performance. The nation awaits with glaring eyes.