WINDHOEK – Local athletes have been urged to stop squandering all the money they earn by participating in international competitions and to think of investing in real estate and other investments.
Acting Permanent-Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, National Services, Sport and Culture Dr Vetumbuavi Veii made this call at the official launch of the National Sports Conference at the Safari Court Hotel in the capital yesterday. He said it is regrettable that many athletes end up on the wrong side of life, because of a failure to invest their hard-earned money wisely. The conference is slated for April this year.
Dr Veii also emphasized the importance of enlightening athletes on issues of financial planning and investment, saying it is the only way to ensure that athletes live better lives after retirement or in case of career-ending injuries. Veii said the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) is one of the institutions that local athletes can make use of to invest their money and urged the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) to play a vital role in assisting athletes to invest their income wisely. Dr Veii also touched on the importance of education and the social change sports can bring about in communities and appealed to corporate companies to become involved in the development of sports in the country at all levels.
Also speaking at the launch was Commissioner Ndeulipulwa Hamutumwa, who said the conference would discuss a range of issues currently hampering the development of sports in Namibia. Among the issues on the agenda, Hamutumwa said, would be the burning issue of transformation in local sports; the lack of adequate funding; good governance and accountability, as well as the categorization of various sport codes; physical education in schools and the importance of disability sports. Moreover, the conference will also reflect on the overall achievements of the Namibian sports over the past 24 years.
The three-day long conference is expected to attract more than 400 participants from all corners of the country and across all sports codes, including sports administrators from the regional to the national level. Sports personalities from outside the country are also expected to participate in the conference.
By Otniel Hembapu