Namibia’s boxers, athletes and swimmers went for a final training session on Wednesday before the All Africa Games officially gets underway, with the opening ceremony yesterday evening. All the coaches have expressed their satisfaction with their athletes’ training programmes and the athletes themselves are quietly confident. Athletics coach Dumont Karupa is very happy with the form of young Tjipe Herunga. The 19-year-old 400m runner won the Southern African Senior Championships in Windhoek at the end of May in a great time of 53,30, which broke Agnes Samaria’s national record. “Tjipe is in great form. I think she can go under 53 seconds, and if she does that, she should be able to qualify for the finals,” he said. Frank Puriza, who is studying at Frank Fredericks’ old university, Brigham Young University in the United States, has been looking sharp in training and is also in confident mood. Puriza will compete in the 200m and 400m where his personal best times are 21,05 and 46,30 seconds respectively. “I will be happy if I can go under 21 seconds for the 200m and 46 seconds for the 400m,” he said. Other athletes who went through their paces today were sprinter Hitjiverue Kaanjuka, high jumper Solomon Tuaire and Helaria Johannes, who will be doing the 20km road race. Boxers are Confident The boxers trained at the Military Academy Gym and also looked sharp. “We know that the nation is expecting medals from us, and we are determined to do well,” said bantamweight boxer Immanuel Naindjala. Heavyweight Tobias Munihango was also in confident mood. “I am aiming for a medal. I won the bronze medal at the 2005 African Championships, but then I was sick and not in good shape. Now I’m fit and ready, so I’m aiming for the gold,” he said. Namibia’s Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Japhet Uutoni, is also looking sharp and will be aiming to make it three gold medals in a row, after he also won the African Championships in Morocco in 2005. Other boxers who will be hoping to do well are flyweight Johannes Simon, who recently won the Boxer of the Tournament award in a competition between South Africa and Namibia, lightweight Julius Indongo, welterweight Desmond Kasuto and light-heavyweight boxer Trevor Jacob. More Athletes Arrive Boxer Tobias Munihango celebrated his birthday with little fanfare on Tuesday, July 10. When asked if he received any presents, Tobias just gave a rueful smile. “My team mates just sang happy birthday to me in the bus on our way to the training. But that’s fine – I hope to get a medal as a present later in the ring,” he said. Team doctor Donatha Gawanas’ birthday is today, July 12. “I’m turning 21,” she quipped, with a smile. Meanwhile, more Namibian athletes are arriving for the opening ceremony. Team manager Bernard Kaanjuka went to pick up the shortlists – cyclists and chess players at the airport, while more athletes are expected in the next few days. The opening ceremony will take place at the Olympic Stadium, a huge open air, circular stadium, and an eye-catching edifice, sporting all the flags of the African nations. The Media Centre is also situated at the Olympic Stadium and certainly looks impressive, with state-of-the-art telecommunication networks. We just received our media accreditation late on Tuesday, but should soon be connected to be able to send data through to Namibia.