Maurice Kambukwe

The Namibia Darts Federation (NDF) has extended an urgent appeal to the corporate world for financial assistance to undertake their upcoming trip to Eswatini (Swaziland).

The NDF is currently in camp preparing for the Region 5 Darts Championships, which will take place in the town of Matsapha from 27 to 31 August. The competition will feature more than eight teams competing for top honours.

Namibia will send a delegation of 30 individuals, including athletes and officials. The teams consist of youth, veteran and senior players, with both male and female participants. The tournament was last held in Namibia in 2022, and won by Botswana.

As the team sets its sights on this year’s games, it faces a significant challenge securing the necessary funds for their trip. Speaking to this publication yesterday, NDF president Ralph Ludwig expressed concerns about the lack of finances, despite the team’s good preparations.

“The tournament is just a week away, and we are racing against time, doing the final touches ahead of the event. However, we face challenges with funding, and are calling on corporate sponsors to assist us. The funding will not only support our travel but also aid in our preparations, as we hope to bring gold medals back home,” he said.

In terms of the team’s potential, Ludwig said, “We have a very youthful squad, eager to win a medal for Namibia. Based on our preparations, it’s evident that we will go far in this tournament. But the most important thing for us is to field some of the up-and-coming darts players, whom we hope will lead the nation in the next three to four years. We are doing this to give them the necessary exposure and game time,” he added. 

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na