… players guaranteed N$75 000 each
Windhoek
The Namibian Government has forked out a handsome N$1.2 million to the victorious Brave Warriors players for bringing honour to the country.
The good news was announced by the Head of State, Dr Hage Geingob, during a special gathering attended by high-ranking cabinet members, senior ministers and the who’s who in the sporting world at State House yesterday.
The 20-member squad will each receive N$50 000, while unconfirmed reports suggest the football association has promised the players N$25 000 each – bringing the total amount to N$75 000 per squad member.
Geingob treated the players and invited guests to a luncheon in honour of their triumph after the Namibians clinched the COSAFA Senior Challenge in Rustenburg, South Africa, last weekend.
“This is just the beginning, success comes with great expectations. You excelled setting a national benchmark by claiming that glittering COSAFA trophy to our shores. We should banish the days when we were happy just to participate internationally, we have to compete to win and you have proven to us that this is possible.”
He however warned against complacency making reference to the Brave Warriors well- documented exploits at the AFCON finals in Burkina Faso in 1998, when the then Namibian amateurs’ success was lauded.
“That success went to coaches and players’ heads who in turn thought that they had arrived and could compete with the big boys – in the process losing focus as they started to put money and popularity ahead of national pride.”
The president urged and challenged the team to qualify for the next edition of the AFCON Cup.
“It has been dome twice – Burkina Faso in 1998 and Ghana in 2008 – and the teams sent to those tournaments did not disappoint, but this time we should strive to compete and qualify en route to win the biggest prize in African football.”
Furthermore, the president emphasized the importance of camaraderie within the team. Team sports like football have an important role to play in society besides entertaining and sending us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
“Players spend a lot of time developing relationships with their team mates and coach. Team mates must learn how to adapt to, and accept each other so that they can work together as a team.”
At the same occasion the sports minister Jerry Ekandjo applauded the Brave Warriors and informed the gathering that his ministry would reward the technical staff.