Zebaldt Ngaruka
IN efforts to empower young athletes, Debmarine Namibia provided sponsorship worth N$70 000 to the Ronald Stigga Ketjijere Football Academy in Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa region on Tuesday.
Former Brave Warriors captain Ronald ‘Stigga’ Ketjijere established the academy in Okakarara in 2021.
It has now extended its operations to Windhoek, where it is home to more than 50 players between the ages of nine and 19 years.
The donated items include training kit, balls, tracksuits, portable goal posts, and boots, among other essential provisions.
Stella Ipinge, Debmarine Namibia's chairperson for the Social Investment Fund, told New Era Sport that Debmarine recognised the meaningful alignment between the academy’s objectives and the company's focus areas.
"The academy plays a significant role in identifying and nurturing young talent in the region, contributing to the holistic development of emerging football players," Ipinge said.
She added that Debmarine Namibia believes in the power of such initiatives to shape the future of Namibia's sports landscape.
"By supporting the academy, we are not only investing in the growth of individual athletes but also in the broader development of football in the region. This endeavour is a testament to our commitment to fostering growth and excellence in various spheres," she said.
Ipinge was impressed by the dedication shown by the former player to set up and support such an academy in his hometown to inspire other young men.
"We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of this support and the blossoming of young talent," Iipinge said.
Ketjijere, expressed gratitude to Debmarine saying he appreciated the company’s efforts to contribute to football development in the country at large.
"This donation comes in handy; this academy is a community project where we groom the youth to make sure they get a platform like this to showcase their talent," Ketjijere said. Ketjijere committed to using the donated items for their intended purpose, saying the players are going to benefit from this and this will motivate them to do better.
"Taking good care of these items will be a priority as the academy needs to cater for many children from villages in the vicinity of Okakarara," he added.
The former African Stars captain said running an academy is not easy, as it comes with a lot of material and financial costs.
He called on other corporate companies to come on board.
"Our under 13 team plays in HopSol, while our under-17s and 19s play in Khomas League. These require transport and accommodation, which are very costly," explained Ketjijere.
-zngaruka@yahoo.com