WINDHOEK – FNB Namibia and its project partners Namib, Mills, National School Sport Union (NSSU), Namibia Rugby Union and various schools have launched the 2014 FNB Classic Clashes, under the theme, Game on – be a hero, be there.
The Classic Clashes were first introduced in 2008 and have become one of the most sought after sporting events among high school learners as they face each other in various ball games such as football, rugby and netball in a first class setting that excites players and spectators. Every year the games surprises with some innovations and excitements and this year, the new Classic Clashes song is certain to excite the crowds after it has been refined by Namibia’s own Ponty. Participating schools have grown from the initial 14 in 2008 to 42 with more schools vying for inclusion every year.
Ian Leyenaar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FNB Namibia, says: “The beauty is that these events primarily encourage community involvement, driven by the schools, and also unite the communities, which is another cornerstone of the clashes. It also serves to identify and develop the most talented athletes as a yardstick to unearth great athletes that may one day represent Namibia.”
Leyenaar adds the bank has continued to invest heavily in these particular games because the project helps in developing young athletes in becoming professional athletes and upright citizens. “What is also worth noting is that the schools that participated in the past bring the same sports competitiveness into play with their academic performances. I am hopeful that through these games, a pool of talented scholars will be identified from which the national football, rugby and netball administrators can select and build strong teams for the country because we believe sports is of great educational value.”
At the same event, Ian Collard, CEO of Namib Mills, highlighted his company’s involvement believing the ball games offer an opportunity for maximal development of talent in the youth by giving young athletes an opportunity to compete fiercely in all sport codes. “Sport is a universal language and its popularity stems from the fact that it is simple to understand and it is able to transcend the cultural preferences, age, gender and even physical attributes. We at Namib Mills are happy that we can contribute towards the FNB Classic Clashes, thus allowing us to grow the sport talent among scholars in Namibia”.