OTJIMBINGWE – Excitement was the order of the day at Otjimbingwe Primary School as learners lined up impatiently to get their hands on a cricket bat, eager to play a sport they are not familiar with.

“This is only the second time Cricket Namibia has visited the settlement, yet the enthusiasm showed the game is already making an impact. 

Who would have thought learners would be so eager to play a sport they had hardly caught a glimpse of or even knew existed?”

For Cricket Namibia, the visits are about more than just introducing a new sport. It is also about linking play with community development.

Cricket coordinator, Jona Ambuga explained that the whole idea is to connect the community with sports while also starting a recycling programme through Cricket Namibia.

He added that the programme will eventually train community members to coach children. “We want locals to start training learners in cricket for a small remuneration through Cricket Namibia. 

That way, the skills remain in the community, and the sport can continue even after we leave,” Ambuga said.

The project also ties in with recycling. “We are in the process of obtaining machinery to recycle plastics lying around in communities. From that, we will create cricket bats across Namibia. This ensures that even rural children, who often don’t have access to equipment, can still play the game,” he noted.

Ambuga stressed that cricket also creates opportunities beyond the pitch. “When we identify top learners, we take them to places like Swakopmund or Walvis Bay. 

Some of them get to see the ocean for the very first time through cricket. It’s not just about sport – it’s about exposure, about opening new doors for children,” he emphasised.

For the learners of Otjimbingwe, the day was one of pure joy. Nepemba /Uiras (7), could not hide her excitement. “Today we had a game called cricket at our school. It was so much fun, and I am so excited to learn more. I would love to play cricket at a higher level one day,” she said.

Another learner, Blessing Awapela, explained how important the visit was. “Otjimbingwe is a dry settlement that was almost forgotten, but thanks to these people, it is no longer forgotten. Most of us only knew netball and soccer because those are the games everyone plays here. Now we also know cricket,” he said.

Grade 7 learner Innocent Uazama echoed this sentiment, saying the programme gave them a new opportunity. “I am so thankful they came to teach us. 

For some of us who have lived here our entire lives, we never knew about cricket. Now it’s something new and exciting for us,” he said.

Ngunomasa Upi, who came all the way from Omaruru, also appreciated the initiative. 

“This is our second time having cricket visitors at our school, and we appreciate it because it teaches us something new. 

I never knew about cricket before, but now I am starting to understand the game because of these good people,” he said.

Ambuga explained that such opportunities matter because they widen children’s horizons. “We are starting in smaller areas where children often only know two or three sports. Cricket provides another option, especially for those who are calmer and prefer a different pace of play,” he said.

He also highlighted that cricket in Namibia is becoming more than just a leisure activity.

 “When we speak of cricket, we’re not only talking about players. We’re looking at coaches, umpires, people maintaining pitches, and even those making equipment. 

It is a whole industry that is growing in Namibia – and we want these children to be part of it,” Ambuga said.