Namibia announced its arrival on the continental canoeing stage after Marzel and Pieter Boshoff delivered a string of podium finishes at the African Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Championships. 

The event was held on 30 and 31 January in Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 

Competing at their first-ever continental championships, the Boshoff siblings, under the guidance of coach Herman Jacobie, produced outstanding performances in both canoe slalom and kayak cross, firmly placing Namibia on the African paddle sport map. 

The championships got underway on Friday with the canoe slalom events before concluding on Saturday with the fast-paced kayak cross races. Despite facing seasoned opposition from across the continent, the Namibians rose to the occasion, collecting an impressive haul of medals. 

Marzel led the charge with multiple podium finishes, claiming second place in the K1 Junior Women Slalom. She continued her fine form in kayak cross, securing third place in the senior women category, second place in junior women, and another second-place finish in the individual junior women event. Pieter also made his mark, finishing third in the junior men’s kayak cross. He added to Namibia’s growing medal tally and underlines the country’s emerging strength in the discipline. Coach Jacobie hailed the performances as a landmark moment for Namibian sport, stressing that the significance of the championships went beyond medals. 

“The results demonstrated that, given the right opportunities and support, Namibian athletes are capable of competing with the best on the continent while inspiring the growth of canoeing and kayaking back home,” he said.The Namibia Canoeing and Rowing Federation echoed these sentiments, noting that the championships marked the return of African continental competition in canoe slalom and kayak cross for the first time since 2015. 

“This is a vital platform for Namibian athletes to gain high-level international exposure and fast-track the development of paddle sport in the country,” reads a statement from the federation. 

The Windhoek Canoe Club also highlighted the long-term value of the experience. 

They reaffirmed their commitment to using the knowledge gained to strengthen development structures, identify talent across Namibia and establish a sustainable pathway for future champions. 

– lmupetami@nepc.com.na