Known for their commitment to investing in local sport, local telecommunications company MTC yesterday blessed Namibia’s Olympic-bound sprint sensations Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma with sponsorships worth N$ 2 million each for the next three years.
The sponsorships include the construction of a house valued at N$300 000 each at their respective villages and monthly airtime allowances of N$3 000 each. Their coach Henk Botha will also get the monthly airtime allowance of N$3 000.
The athletes will each receive an amount of N$100 000 per annum for their personal upkeep, and N$250 000 per year for event preparations.
The sponsors are furthermore committing to host one local athletics event in Namibia to honour the achievements of both sprinters, and to inspire other athletes to reach for the “stars”. This event will be delivered at a cost of N$1 million, and international participants are coming to compete here.
Speaking at the briefing, MTC executive Tim Ekandjo said the sponsorships are the largest ever made to individual athletes.
“We are delighted to announce that we have officially welcomed Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma to the MTC family. Through this support, we are reiterating our unyielding position that sports development is central to nation-building,” he noted.
“We have always supported sport. Our investment in the Namibia Youth Games, now known as the MTC Youth Games, is evidence that when you invest in youth development, you are most likely to get results, and we are certainly proud that both these athletes are products of the Youth Games,” added Ekandjo.
Speaking at the same event, deputy sports minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas said the sponsorships came at the right time when the athletes are embarking on professional sports journeys.
“We would like to reiterate the commitment of the ministry to provide an enabling environment for sports, and as the ministry responsible and entrusted with the development of sports, we are intensifying our efforts to realise that objective. Partnerships of this nature are crucial for athletes as it comes at the right time when we are embarking upon professionalising sport in line with the NDP (National Development Plan) 5 and the Harambee Prosperity Plan 2,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Shoprite Namibia Rundu branch earlier this week donated foodstuff to the families of both athletes worth N$ 30 000 each, which will be delivered on a monthly basis. The first consignment was already delivered to the families.
Additionally, the headwoman of the Taratara village donated two bags of mahangu to the two athletes.
The regional leadership of Kavango East as well as businesses and individuals in the region donated over N$ 52 000 to the two athletes. Namibia Wildlife Resorts offered vouchers worth N$30 000 to each of the sprinters to visit any of their resorts in Namibia, while their coach Henk Botha received a voucher of N$ 15 000.
- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na