Solly Duiker, the national director of the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU), says the MTC Namibia Youth Games are
helping to fast-track the progression of school athletes into top-class competitors that can represent the country at senior level. With topmost national school competitions already a rarity, Duiker believes that the youth games are of outmost importance when it comes to according school athletes an opportunity to compete in an all-inone top competition where the very best of the best from all 14 regions come together to vie for top honours.

Not only does the youth games provide a platform to compete, but the games also act as a link between school sports and the athletes’ eventual progression to the senior ranks. The 2020 MTC Youth Games will be held at Rietfontein in the
Otjozondjupa region from 16-18 of December.

“The youth games play a vital role for the country’s youth as they create a conducive environment for every
single Namibian kid to compete at that level. This helps them showcase their talents that are usually not explored. Not most of them taking part in this competition are school going children but some are also out of school, but are youth. This is in line with the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games, so it’s a good stage for them to fully utilise the opportunity and
advance to the senior ranks through the MTC Namibia Youth Games,” Duiker said.

In terms of the role the youth games play in complimenting the overall mandate of the NSSU, Duiker said the youth competition corresponds well and it already shows how instrumental the games have been in encouraging the youth
to compete more at school level.

“Every school going child aspires to compete at this national competition, so that encourages them to also invest time to compete more in school tournaments, which help in the end for us to execute most of our activities at that level.
I believe these games are playing a big role in assisting us execute school activities at a much higher level,” added Duiker.
The games are expected to attract an estimated 1 092 athletes and over 170 coaches and officials from all regions, and will feature sport codes such as football, netball, volleyball, basketball, boxing, tennis, athletics, and para-sport. After the conclusion of the games, a team will be selected to represent Namibia at the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games in December
2021 in Lesotho.
mkambukwe@nepc.com.na