Lüderitz - Apart from visiting schools to motivate learners and aspiring athletes, they are also on a scouting mission, coach Henk Botha said here on Tuesday. 

Botha was speaking during a gala dinner hosted for his athletes Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi at the harbour town. 

“We will identify potential athletics stars and groom them into national and international stars through training and providing them with the required nutrition,” he explained. 

Mboma, in her contribution, urged the youth of Lüderitz and Namibia as a whole to stay focussed and positive in life.

“You must always belief in yourself in order to accomplish your dreams,” she added.

Masilingi advised learners to be prepared to start at the bottom in life if they wish to reach the top. 

“You should not concentrate on the fame that is accompanying successful people in life, but rather work on your dreams in life first, otherwise you will definitely fail in all your efforts,” she said. 

On her part, //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick applauded the duo for making Namibia “extremely proud” with their performances at the recent Olympics.

“Your fighting spirit, commitment, clearly heroic endurance and patriotism have exceeded our expectations,” she said, adding that their background and rise to fame have given hope for those who are coming from similar social settings. 

In her remarks, Lüderitz mayor Annemarie Hartzenberg said the two sports stars have demonstrated that sports can bring people from all walks of life together. 

“The courage, strength, endurance and resilience you demonstrated in the midst of adversity ignited hope in the Namibian people who lost loved ones due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she observed. 

- sklukowski@nepc.com.na