Zebaldt Ngaruka
The Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) has identified the Plessies Plaas settlement in the Omaheke region as an ideal place for a sports school in the country.
This was revealed by Timo Tjongarero, the RMF programme manager, during the foundation’s recent weeklong tour in the region.
The Spanish La Liga giant, Real Madrid Football Club, the sports ministry, Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) and Cadilu Fishing company spearhead the programme, which started last year.
The construction project is set to start next year and is aimed at creating opportunities for primary school learners.
Tjongarero said the RMF sports school will house and train the learners interested in basketball and football, and there will also be a vocational school.
He added that the sports ministry and Cadilu Fishing company are the only partners in terms of funding so far.
“The ministry of education is yet to fund the project, but they are the ones selecting the schools, whereas NSSU is selecting players,” explained the programme manager.
He added that they are in talks with the information ministry to see what areas of collaboration they can foster.
Asked what RMF noticed in terms of talent and standard of development of young players in Namibia, the programme manager said the foundation had about 1 000 children last year who participated in the programme from various parts of the country.
“This year, we had 480 children in two clinics we held in Keetmanshoop, whereas Gobabis had 238, which is close to the target of 240 in the area,” he noted.
Tjongarero further wishes more institutions come on board and assist in facilitating the project to create more facilities for the youth around the country.
“This way, the learners can have a place they can call their own and practice sports in a safer environment,” he emphasised.
Omaheke region’s NSSU chairperson Ivo Mate told this publication that the RMF school will be beneficial to the region.
“We have learners who can not progress in formal schools, and this will benefit them with vocational training.
This will be great for the child’s development, both academically and sports-wise,” said Mate.
The chairperson added the week-long training clinic was successful as schools cooperated, and the learners were allowed to expose their talent. “Our shortcoming was basketball, but the basketball federation promised to work closely with us to revive the sports code,” Mate said.
-zngaruka@yahoo.com