Zebaldt Ngaruka
OZOMBOUVAPA – Football team Otjinene All Stars received N$7 000 worth of sportswear, courtesy of the agricultural retailer Agrimark in Otjinene.
Tjiveta Mbaundja, president of Otjinene Sports Council (OSC), said the sponsorship came at the right time, as Otjinene All Stars has been without gear for two years.
“I am overwhelmed by the good gesture from Agrimark. We will take care of these gear, as well as the soccer balls and whistles,” added the president.
He said All Stars used to borrow attire from local teams when playing in the Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation tournament.
Mbaundja requested extra sports gear for the netball teams, as well as for the line ministry to come up with a sports clinic in the constituency, which will develop other sports codes like boxing, athletics and volleyball.
He requested coaching courses to improve the skills of the local football and netball coaches.
The other major need, Mbaundja added, is a sports ground for the community.
“We are one of the vast constituencies in the region, but we are using the school sports grounds.”
The president further said consultations are underway between the OSC and the local authorities so that land can be provided for the construction of a sports ground.
“We are hoping for positive feedback, as most of our local tournaments are taken to either Gobabis or Windhoek. This is a very costly situation, as we must pay for transport and accommodation for players,” he stated.
On his part, Otjinene’s Agrimark branch manager Unomuinjo Vetuesapi Katjiuongua said investing in youth development programmes is one of the company’s target areas.
“We have seen the progress of this football team in many tournaments. They are doing a formidable job without proper gear, and I hope our sponsorship will make a difference,” said Katjiuongua.
He added that Otjinene youth need to be provided with activities that will keep them busy after school, and sports is one of them.
“We are engaging various stakeholders in our constituency to bring changes to the life of the youth. The sports office is trying its best, and we also assisted them in the boxing tournament they held recently,” he stated.
The branch manager further urged the OSC to take good care of the gear.
“The players must know that they are representing the community, and these gears bear the name of Agrimark. Therefore, they must respect and wear them responsibly,” he emphasised. – zngaruka@yahoo.com