Hesron Kapanga

Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) secretary general Michael Hamukwaya says the Region Five Games, scheduled to take place in Namibia in July, will serve as a springboard for up-and-coming athletes with disabilities.

Namibia will host the 11th edition of the African Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games from 4 to 13 July 2025 in Windhoek and Swakopmund.

In an interview with Nampa yesterday, Hamukwaya said 19 athletes were selected during the National Youth Games held in Oshakati in 2024 to represent Namibia at the Games, which were initially scheduled to be held in Mozambique, but have since been relocated to Namibia.

“Next week, athletes are expected to come in for one week of training and classification sessions in Windhoek, provided all plans go smoothly. Zambezi has two athletes, Kavango East has six, Oshana has six, Khomas has four and Omaheke has one,” he said.

Hamukwaya added that the Games have previously been used to nurture young and upcoming athletes, and he is looking forward to the young athletes learning and acquiring skills at their first international games.

“The Region Five Games is a key platform we use to develop these athletes, as this is the Olympics of our Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and it provides a springboard for young athletes to compete against the best in SADC,” he said, noting that athletes such as Ananias Shikongo, Johannes Nambala, Lahja Ishitile, Chris Kinda and Alfredo Bernado have all used these Games to launch their international careers.

Meanwhile, the NPC team manager for the Games, Theopolina Kondunda, informed this agency that they had initially selected a larger group of athletes. However, some athletes who turned 19 had to be removed from the team.

“We want young athletes who can represent the country at the Under-19 African Championships, which is why we removed some of the older athletes in favour of younger ones who will qualify for those championships after the Region Five Games,” Kondunda said.

She said the planned classification and training camp is scheduled for 6 to 13 April 2025, subject to the availability of funding.

“We have selected athletes who will compete in track and field events in the T11, T12 and T13 categories in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres and 1 500 metres. If these athletes are not classified, they will not be able to compete at the championships,” she said.

Athletes and guides selected for the training camp include Chikumba Kanyanga, Angula Shikwena, Titus Weyulu, Ndadinifa Haindongo, Elango Nadhipite, Lifuno Chika, Lubembo Mushandikwe, Dapewa Iipinge, Maria Nangombe, Hilma Kaa Ndakalako, Veronika Kusolola, Karolina Hausiku, Ester Munango, Hertha Kavera, Justina Hamutenya, Titus Alweendo, Matjayi Timothy, Christopher Shilongo and Monika Michael.

The guides are Nguundja Mujoro, Amos Fillemon, Filippus Paulus and Teodor Shiluwa.