By Otniel Hembapu
WINDHOEK – As has become a customary malady in the Namibian sports fraternity, financial constraints have again been identified as the chief destroyer of dreams – making it impossible for the Namibia Karate Union (NAKU) to achieve all its desired goals, locally and internationally.
With NAKU set to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) for all its affiliated members on the 21st of this month, the union’s president, Cornelius D’Alton, yesterday admitted that the persistent lack of a headline sponsor has over the years made it very difficult for the karate body to fully implement all its targeted programmes but promised the problem will thoroughly be discussed at the upcoming meeting.
Also at the meeting, D’Alton said, the union will elect new executive members that will be tasked with ensuring that all resolutions taken at the upcoming meeting are fully implemented and are in line with the union’s long-term objectives.
“Besides the financial issues and the election of new executive members, we will also be mapping the way forward with the ultimate aim of making karate one of the biggest sport codes in terms of representing the country internationally. We will also be looking at various strategic ways on how we can secure the desired sponsor while also putting special emphasis on how NAKU can even improve more by staging competitive national championships in all corners of the country,” said D’Alton.
He added that plans are also under way to set up a national karate league, which he believes will harmonise and bring the best of the best under one roof while also according the karatekas an opportunity to compete at a much higher level.
“As of now, the union largely depends on contributions from members, so we feel it’s high time NAKU becomes a self-reliant organisation that strives to become the best in its business, while also striving to make the country proud.”