IBF congratulates world champ Indongo

December 4, 2016, 1:59 am

IBF congratulates world champ Indongo

IBF Africa has congratulated Namibian boxer Julius Indongo following his world title win last night in Russia.
Indongo won the IBF and IBO light welterweight titles by knocking out the reigning champion Eduard Troyanovsky in Moscow with a left hook 40 seconds into the fight.
“IBF Africa takes this special and rare moment to congratulate the new champion of the world Julius Indongo for the greatest achievements. Indongo will go down in history as the first ever Namibian IBF champion of the world setting a path for his countrymen and women to follow,” said IBF President Onesmo Ngowi.
“We cannot leave MTC the company that sponsors Indongo for they have invested massively in the Namibian boxing industry to where it stands today. The company has pumped in millions of Namibia dollars and the results are the current resounding success.”

STAFF REPORTER

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Uushona redeems himself

December 4, 2016, 3:31 am

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Uushona redeems himself

The Salute Boxing Academy’s last event for the year has seen Bethuel ‘Tyson’ Uushona being crowned as the new WBF world champion. Uushona stacked to his words of punishing his opponent Rafal Jackiewich as the two contended for the WBF Welterweight world title. In what can be described as a bout of hard punchers, Uushona came out tops to be crowed the new world champion after 12 rounds earlier this morning.

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Unam opens youth football academy

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Unam opens youth football academy

NAMPA

The University of Namibia (Unam) Football Club is opening a youth football academy.

The academy will cater for players between five and 15 years, and will be fully operational in March 2017. It will be called Unam Football Club Youth Development.

Speaking to Nampa on Wednesday, Unam football coach Ronny Kanalelo said starting a youth academy is an opportunity to give back to the Namibian youth who are not exposed to the basics of how football is run professionally.

Kanalelo said players struggle to identify football formats and structure when they come to the premier league because they missed the basics when they were younger.

“With our academy we want these young players to learn the basics which will make them understand the game at an early age,” he said.

Kanalelo added that local youth academies do not work on the players’ strength and weakness as their main focus is on how much money they will make out of the players.

The Unam academy will work on the players’ athletic, academic and management skills.

“We want our players to be good at all those things because we don’t want people who only know how to play football but are doing poorly in school,” he said.

The coach said only talented players get to play in matches while those who are not so talented are overlooked, because coaches do not know their strengths and weaknesses.

The academy will be operating from Monday to Friday after school.

Registration for the academy started on Thursday.

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Craven looks forward to 2017

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Craven looks forward to 2017Rapha delivers more Namibian Rio jerseys Cyclist Dan Craven has become a sensation in cycling circles, which has led to the Rapha company making more of the jerseys that Craven wore at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

KAINO NGHITONGO

Namibian senior cyclist Dan Craven is a happy man because of what he was able to do this year for his team, Cycling Academy.

Craven said he took a step down by joining team Cycling Academy, “but in many ways took a step up.”

“The team was significantly smaller (size and stature) than my previous one, Team Europcar, but I took on a very different role, as the oldest and most experienced rider.

“I had an important role to fill on and off the bike, showing the young riders the ropes and acting as a go-between for management and riders,” he said.

Looking only at results, “it does not look like I had a fantastic year on paper but I played a very big role as a domestique, helping my teammates gain victories.”

He said in 2017 the Namibian cyclists will be part of the team again, and “we are going up a level”.

“This is seriously exciting as we can now compete in very big races against the top teams in the world,” he said.

He further mentioned that continental teams can now compete against the top teams every now and then, while the Pro Continental teams can compete with World Tour (top level) regularly.

He is not yet sure of how his programme looks like for next year, but has a few events that he would like to compete in.

“I really hope to be back home (Namibia) in February for the national championships and would love to compete in the Nedbank MTB marathon champs, just for fun,” he said.

He added that African champs are also something he would love to do but that remains to be seen.

Having gained the world’s attention from the Olympic Games for his live tweets; Craven said there has also been a huge interest in the jersey that he wore at the Games.

Namibia’s cycling jersey maker, Rapha, has announced that it will make more jerseys for sale.

According to Craven, the jersey was so popular that they have made 700 more to sell online and give some money from the proceeds to the Namibia Cycling Federation (NCF) for development purposes in Namibia.

He advised his fellow cyclists that the main thing is to enjoy riding - or whatever sport they do, “and keep looking and experimenting with different sports when you feel you haven''t found your sport yet.”

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10 000 female footballers wanted

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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10 000 female footballers wantedMoney problems hurt NFA football development The NFA held its ordinary congress over the weekend to discuss football issues ranging from financial challenges to the uncertainty of the premier league.

The Namibia Football Association''s spokesperson Fire Vatilifa says there are more than 4 084 girls and women playing football in the country but the association wants to see the number increase to 10 000 by 2018.

Vatilifa said this after the conclusion of the NFA''s 26th ordinary congress in Walvis Bay on Saturday.

He mentioned that the association is using women football as a tool for good and a weapon to fight evils such as HIV/Aids, drug and alcohol abuse, and early pregnancy.

According to Vatilifa the congress was a resounding success and the NFA is looking forward to a good season.

“In the distant past, we had congresses where members fought each other verbally and physically. This occasion was different,” he said.

Vatilifa said the congress reviewed the NFA''s operations during the recently concluded season and provided an opportunity to look at the implementation of new policies

He labelled the season under review a challenging one for NFA, the NPL and all other members.

“The association faced unprecedented financial crises, as the funds granted by government were not availed to the association as normal while the standing position of trusted league sponsor MTC remains a challenge for the NPL to overcome,” he said.

Some of the milestones reached by the NFA listed by Vatilifa include the completion of the respective leagues successfully, the completion of the third phase of the NFA technical centre and the NFA Girls Centre.

“We honoured our international commitments and played 22 matches. The 18 senior men''s league championships were successfully concluded during the past season. An amount of N$130 000 or more was committed to the 14 regional second division leagues by NFA during the 2015/2016 season. We also successfully hosted the COSAFA Castle Cup and won the COSAFA U/17 Championships in Mauritius,” said

Vatilifa.

He also pointed out that an agreement was signed by NFA, FIFA, GIZ, DFB and Westphalia to construct or rehabilitate football pitches in Ohangwena.

“The NFA is however faced with a challenge to get the corporate world on its side. We ask clubs to lobby fans to attend matches and appeal to fans to come to games. The NFA will do everything in its power to ensure there are facilities where football can be played and enjoyed,” he said.

Vatilifa expressed optimism that that the Namibia Premier Soccer League (NPL) will kick off in February 2017.

“The withdrawal of MTC from funding the NPL caused some hiccups. We will however receive a funder sooner rather than later. We took a resolution that the premier league will start in February and it will be completed in good time,” he said, adding that the season usually commences in October and finishes in May.

He said the congress accepted a resignation tendered by the Namibia Football Players Union (NAFPU) and no longer has any relationship with the organisation.

OTIS FINCK

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Junk status for SA?

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Junk status for SA? S&P is widely expected to downgrade South Africa''s credit rating to junk status. South Africa might be just hours away from losing its investment-grade rating at S&P Global Ratings, a relegation that could take years to undo, Reuters reported this week.

With a credit assessment due on Friday, the country''s foreign-currency debt is at risk of being rated junk by S&P for the first time in more than 16 years. Only six of 20 countries reduced below investment grade by S&P over the last three decades have regained it, and that took from 13 months to more than 11 years, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

A cut by S&P would move the company''s rating of the nation''s foreign-currency debt to the same level as Russia and Portugal. Investors already consider South Africa more risky than Russia, with the cost of insuring against non-payment of debt for five years using credit-default swaps 15 basis points higher than for that country.

NAMPA/REUTERS

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Much hoo-ha over Trump

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Much hoo-ha over TrumpTrump not so dangerous, economist says A leading South African economist, Rian le Roux, says Trump’s presidency may not be bad for the world economy.

FIN24

Donald Trump’s presidency may not be as dangerous to the world as people may think, said Old Mutual Investments chief economist Rian le Roux.

Le Roux was speaking at a media briefing on the economic outlook for 2017. He shared his views on the outcome of the US election and its impact on the rest of the world.

“Provided we don’t get a ‘full-on’ Trump policy, then the world should be better by 2018,” he said.

Trump’s policy manifesto, which appears to be extreme, is calling for three big moves. These being a big fiscal policy stimulus, foreign trade restrictions and corporate tax breaks.

“The issue is to what extent he will be able to implement that,” said Le Roux. “My view is that there will be a lot of pushback.”

Global trade restrictions will be met with retaliation, geopolitical problems and global opposition, explained Le Roux.

Trump also proposes US$7 trillion worth of tax cuts and $1 trillion worth of infrastructure spend.

“The US economy is $18.7 trillion big, which makes the total 43% of gross domestic product. Given this information, this proposal is not doable.

“This is partly because the US government debt is 100% of gross domestic product. If fully implemented it will add 26% of gross domestic product to government debt,” he explained.

Trump’s policy, which calls for fiscal expansion, will put more pressure on the Federal Reserve Bank. This will result in wage increases, more inflation, and faster rate increases by the Fed. The dollar will be stronger and a surging dollar will add dangers to the rest of the world.

“A strong dollar is bad for the world. [Historically] all big surges coincide with trouble around the world,” said Le Roux. Capital will shift from the rest of the world to the US and commodity prices are likely to fall because of a stronger dollar. The Fed will have to consider the added pressure on the rest of the world when they make decisions.

The US may do well for a while, but then be hit by the impact on the rest of the world.

“It might be okay for the US in the short term but it won’t be great in the long term,” said Le Roux.

A moderate version of Trump’s policies will involve a decent, not extreme, fiscal stimulus. The US will grow faster but it won’t result in capital flight from the rest of the world, explained Le Roux.

This will also involve moderate trade restrictions, and the dollar will be moderately firmer.

“Essentially this will not be bad for the world. It will actually be quite good and can result in recovering global confidence.”

Le Roux added that markets have priced in a moderate situation, which is why expectations of Trump’s presidency may not be bad for the world economy.

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Opec to meet non-Opec producers

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Opec to meet non-Opec producers Opec will meet non-Opec countries to finalise a global oil limiting pact on 10 December in Vienna, two sources told Reuters on Saturday.

Two Opec sources earlier said the meeting was due to take place in the Russian capital Moscow, but later said that plan had changed.

Opec agreed this week to reduce output by around 1.2 million barrels per day beginning in January in a bid to reduce global oversupply and prop up prices.

It hopes non-Opec countries will contribute another 600,000 barrels per day to the cut. Russia has said it will reduce output by around 300,000 barrels per day.

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Komeho's moringa project bears fruit

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Komeho's moringa project bears fruitMoringa cultivation project a success Komeha''s moringa project, deemed self-sufficient by the Environmental Investment Fund, generates N$150 000 in revenue.

A moringa tree cultivation project started by the Komeho Namibia Development Agency was handed over to the community of the Kaisosi settlement in Rundu last week.

The Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) funded the project, which is now considered to be self-sufficient.

The community of Kaisosi will continue working on it to generate an income.

Speaking at the official handover of the project, EIF director of operations Karl Aribeb said he was happy with the progress of the project over the two years.

“The main objective of this project is to support initiatives that directly address the issues of poverty alleviation,” Aribeb said.

The EIF promotes the sustainable economic development of Namibia through investment in and promotion of activities and projects that protect and maintain the natural and environmental resources of the country.

Komeho Namibia, a non-profit organisation, received N$500 000 from EIF to cultivate the moringa trees for two years.

The project included the setup of a one-hectare garden for the tree plantation, which employed more than 30 people from Kaisosi.

The final report by Komeho indicated that about N$150 000 was generated through the sale of moringa products.

The moringa tree is classified as a ''super food''. The tree grows naturally in some parts of Namibia, and parts of the plant are said to be safe for human consumption.

Max Musongo, the chief administrator of Komeho Namibia, told Nampa Wednesday the flowers which grow on the moringa tree are sold to an organisation known as the Senior Experts Association in Germany.

The oil in the seeds are sold locally for use in hair food, anti-aging gel and shampoo.

The leaves from the tree are dried and turned into a powder for human consumption as well as animal feed. The powder can be incorporated into bread and other food.

Aribeb said over 1500 people at Kaisosi have benefited from the nutritional value of the moringa tree since the inception of the project.

Komeho Namibia was formed in 2001 to contribute to Namibia''s national development objectives by promoting economic growth, local value addition, and job creation.

The organisation also promotes sustainable management of natural resources, capacity building, reduction of income inequality and alleviation of poverty in rural and urban areas.

NAMPA

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FastJet keen to take on SAA

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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FastJet keen to take on SAA

Fastjet is considering expanding in South Africa as new chief executive officer Nico Bezuidenhout evaluates growth opportunities for the unprofitable discount airline and says the continent''s most industrialised economy is too big to stay out of.

While the Africa-focused carrier already connects Johannesburg with its hubs in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, it has no internal services in South Africa.

The market “cannot be ignored,” Bezuidenhout, 40, said in an interview in Johannesburg, where he''s relocating Fastjet''s headquarters from London after joining the company in August.

Bezuidenhout said he''d like to make progress in South Africa next year. “Would we consider entering a joint venture agreement?” the CEO said. “Would we consider M&A activity or would we consider partnering with somebody and doing a greenfield operation? I think all of those options are on the table.”

“The South African aviation market is reasonably overtraded,” Bezuidenhout said. “When one enters this market you have to do it carefully and in a considered and measured manner. So we are working on developing that plan.”

Fastjet is also evaluating expansion in other markets in southern Africa, though Bezuidenhout said it will resist deploying excess capacity by adding routes too quickly, describing that as “the quickest way that you drive an airline into the ground.”

NEWS24

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Nigeria win women's African Cup

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Nigeria win women's African CupOparanozie''s goal gives super Falcons victory Super Falcons and Medkila IL goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi says the side''s victory in the final of the 10th Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Cameroon came as a surprise.

Nigeria scored late to deny Cameroon a home triumph and extend its dominance of the women''s African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win in the final on Saturday.

Desire Oparanozie''s 84th-minute goal in Yaounde gave defending champion Nigeria its 10th title in 12 tournaments. Only Equatorial Guinea in 2008 and 2012 has managed to wrestle the African soccer crown away from the Nigerian women in the last 25 years.

Cameroon came into this final bristling with confidence after winning all its group games and knocking out Ghana in the semi-finals, the only team to take points off Nigeria in their group.

Spurred on by 40,000 home fans, who began packing into the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium five hours before kickoff, Cameroon even had the better chances in the final only to end runner-up for the fourth time - all four to Nigeria. Nigeria beat Cameroon 2-0 in the deciding game of the last tournament in 2014.

This game was much tighter and Cameroon was more enterprising in the first half. Striker Madeleine Ngono had a chance in the 33rd but she couldn''t beat Nigerian goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan when one-on-one.

Nigeria, which survived a couple more chances, was fortunate with its late winner when Ngozi Okobi''s pass rebounded off a Cameroon defender and dropped into the path of Oparanozie to score.

That was a knockout blow for the Cameroon team and the home fans, which included Cameroon President Paul Biya, but the tournament overall has been a success for the country. Boosting women''s soccer in Africa, most of the games were played in full stadiums.

NAMPA/AP

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Mourinho, Ronaldo deny tax-evasion claims

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Mourinho, Ronaldo deny tax-evasion claims Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday denied hiding millions of euros in offshore accounts in an effort to avoid the tax man.

An international consortium of media organisations claimed that a huge data leak involving 18 million documents showed Portuguese skipper Ronaldo hid 150 million euros from image rights in a British Virgin Islands tax haven.

According to the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) consortium, Mourinho is said to have concealed 12 million euros in a Swiss account owned by a British Virgin Islands company.

But Gestifute, a firm representing the two men, has rejected allegations of facilitating tax evasion.

In a statement, the company, founded by agent Jorge Mendes, said: “One newspaper makes the unfounded allegation that Gestifute, its clients and its advisers of having, directly or indirectly, created, organised or designed tax structures to facilitate tax evasion using tax havens.

“The most serious and malicious allegations in the inquiries relate to Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.”

It added: “Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are fully compliant with their tax obligations with the Spanish and British tax authorities.

“Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Jose Mourinho have ever been involved in legal proceedings regarding the commission of a tax offence.

“Any insinuation or accusation made to Cristiano Ronaldo or Jose Mourinho over the commission of a tax offence will be reported to the legal authorities and prosecuted.”

NAMPA/AFP

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Ground-breaking US diver Lee dies at 96

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Ground-breaking US diver Lee dies at 96

NAMPA/AFP

Legendary diver Sammy Lee, the first Asian American to win Olympic gold for the United States, has died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 96.

Lee''s son, Sammy Lee II, said Saturday that his father died peacefully in a Southern California hospital.

Born in Fresno to Korean immigrant parents, Lee won Olympic gold for the United States in London in 1948 and successfully defended his 10-metre diving Olympic championship in Helsinki in 1952.

He was the first male diver to repeat as Olympic champion.

He later coached some of the United States'' best Olympic divers, including Greg Louganis, Bob Webster and Pat McCormick.

In addition to his involvement in the sport, Lee served in the US Army for 13 years, retiring with the rank of major.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and served for a time on the President''s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

He was appointed US Presidential Representative to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, 1972 Munich Olympics and 1988 Seoul Olympics.

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'Late fightbacks part of Real's DNA'

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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'Late fightbacks part of Real's DNA'Ramos rescues Real to maintain six-point lead Barcelona boss Luis Enrique believes the Spanish champions need a dramatic improvement in their home form if they are to prevent Real Madrid running away with a first La Liga title in five years

Sergio Ramos''s stoppage-time equaliser maintained Real Madrid''s six-point lead at the top of La Liga as the European champions salvaged a 1-1 draw at Barcelona in Saturday''s El Clasico.

Luis Suarez looked to have breathed new life into the title race when he headed home the opener from Neymar''s free-kick eight minutes into the second half.

Neymar and Lionel Messi then passed up huge chances to add to Barca''s advantage, and the hosts were made to pay when Real captain Ramos met Luka Modric''s free-kick with a powerful header to stretch Madrid''s unbeaten run in all competitions to 33 games.

“I have to once again highlight the heart of this team, they believed until the end and got the draw which is important,” said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

Barca coach Luis Enrique lamented his side''s luck, but also blamed a lack of efficiency in front of goal as, for a fourth time in seven home league games, the Catalans dropped points.

“The performance of the team was better than the opponent in my opinion. Football has been unfair to us,” said Enrique.

“It is a huge blow for all of us but we have only played 14 games in the league and there is a long way to go.

“We have to improve our performance and get better results, especially at home, because we are miles off where we want to be.”

Before kick-off both sides came together to pay homage to the 71 victims that wiped out almost the entirety of Brazilian side Chapecoense''s squad in a plane crash in Colombia earlier in the week. However, once the action got underway old hostilities were renewed as Madrid screamed for a penalty less than two minutes in.

Lucas Vazquez went down under Javier Mascherano''s challenge, but referee Carlos Clos Gomez waved play on.

Barcelona enjoyed the majority of possession, but with captain Andres Iniesta left on the bench on his return from a two-month injury layoff, lacked the creativity to break down Madrid before the break.

At the other end the spotlight was on Cristiano Ronaldo more than ever in the absence of the injured Gareth Bale and following allegations of grand scale tax avoidance published by a series of European media organisations on Saturday.

The Portuguese came to life towards the end of the first-half as he had Madrid''s first shot on target that was turned behind by Marc-Andre ter Stegen eight minutes before half-time and the German stood firm to deny another driven Ronaldo effort moments later.

However, Barca started the second-half on the front foot and got the goal they badly needed to kickstart their title defence when Neymar''s free-kick from the left found Suarez somehow unmarked to head home from point blank range.

Iniesta was then introduced to a hero''s welcome and teed up Neymar for a huge chance to seal the three points 21 minutes from time.

The Brazilian skipped past Dani Carvajal, but blasted over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Iniesta then produced a sublime pass to lay the chance Messi had been waiting for all afternoon on a plate, but the Argentine pulled his effort wide of the far post with just Navas to beat.

And Barca were made to pay for their profligacy as Ramos rose unmarked to power home Modric''s free-kick as the game entered stoppage time to silence the Camp Nou.

Barca still had one final chance to snatch all three points, but Sergi Roberto''s looping header was cleared off the line as a first La Liga title in five seasons edged closer for Real.

A fine night for Real was rounded off as Atletico Madrid remain nine points back in fourth after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Espanyol.

Indeed, the Champions League finalists were thankful to goalkeeper Jan Oblak for even a point as he made brilliant saves from Gerard Moreno and Leo Baptistao.

Third-placed Sevilla also slipped to defeat as Granada moved off the bottom with their first win of the season 2-1 at Nuevo Los Carmenes.

NAMPA/AFP

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Hamilton sad, not surprised by Rosberg retirement

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Hamilton sad, not surprised by Rosberg retirement NAMPA/AFP

Lewis Hamilton says he is "sad but not surprised" at Nico Rosberg''s sudden decision to quit Formula One.

Rosberg stunned motor sport when announcing his retirement on Friday, five days after finally claiming his maiden world title.

Hamilton and Rosberg''s careers have developed in tandem, from the go-kart circuits of their teenage years to F1 and the dominant Mercedes team.

And while Rosberg''s revelation stunned F1 fans, his friend and fierce rival was unfazed by the news.

"I''m probably one of the only people that it was not a surprise to, but that''s because I''ve known him for a long time," Hamilton told autosport.com in Vienna at F1''s annual awards ceremony.

"This is the first time he''s won in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop.

"But he''s also got a family to focus on, having children, and Formula 1 takes so much of your time."

Three-time world champion Hamilton added: "We started out when we were 13 and we''d always talked about being champions.

"When I joined this team (Mercedes) Nico was there, which was again something we talked about when we were kids.

"It''s going to be very very strange, and it will be sad not to have him in the team next year. The sport will miss him, and I wish him all the best."

Unlike Hamilton, Rosberg''s exit caught Jean Todt, the president of motor sport''s ruling body the FIA, unawares.

"I was very surprised, as I''m sure everyone is, but Nico has demonstrated across the year that he is extremely brave," the Frenchman said.

"I speak with a lot of emotion, because I knew him as a small boy.

"He was five, at the time I was head of Peugeot Motorsport and his father (former world champion Keke) was one of the drivers of the 905 Peugeot, so I had friendly links with his father, with his mother and the little boy that was there. He has had an amazing career since then."

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt said he was bemused by the German''s decision.

Bolt, due to retire himself next year, said from Monaco: "I can''t understand. Everybody has their reasons for everything, but I really don''t know.

"I guess he felt like he has gotten what he wanted.

"I think he said he had never won a championship and that''s what he wanted. If you accomplish your goal, there''s no reason to stay around. That''s what you wanted, you got what you want, just move on."

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I have too much pride, says Woods

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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I have too much pride, says WoodsTiger ''not quite there'' but still eyes major record After a 16-month back surgery layoff, Tiger Woods evoked memories of his glory days by firing a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 Friday at the Hero World Challenge.

NAMPA/AFP

Tiger Woods sees daily progress in his return from a 16-month back injury layoff and hinted Saturday he is still chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods, a 14-time major champion, sizzled early for the third consecutive round but fizzled late in firing a two-under-par 70 at his comeback event, the Hero World Challenge hosted by his charity foundation.

"I''m just not quite there, but it''s coming. The great thing is I''m building and each day I''ve gotten a little bit stronger," said Woods, who admits tiring on late holes.

"I''m definitely not as fresh as I would like to be. No matter how much you work out it''s very different than being in playing shape. There are all these different things you can''t simulate at home."

Woods, who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, was asked after his round about trying to catch Nicklaus even though no player has won four majors after turning 41, which Woods will do later this month.

"I wouldn''t be here doing this if I didn''t feel like I could play at the highest level," Woods said. "I have too much pride."

Only four players have won multiple majors after turning 41 -- Old Tom Morris with three 1860s British Opens and Harry Vardon, Julius Boros and Woods pal Mark O''Meara with two each.

Woods stood on eight-under 208, 11 strokes behind leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan after 54 holes at the 18-man invitational.

"For three straight days, I''ve gotten off to great starts. For two of those days, I haven''t been able to keep it going," Woods said. "I would like to get another solid round."

Woods birdied four of the first five holes but it was no day at the beach for the former world number one, who spent considerable time in Bahamas sand waste areas after missing the last five fairways at Albany Golf Club, a 7,302-yard Ernie Els-designed layout.

"Probably couldn''t get off to a better start than I did," Woods said. "Generally when I come back from layoffs, that''s the most concerning part of the game, but I''ve been able to build a significant amount of positive shots and go under par early."

Woods took a bogey at the par-5 sixth but answered with birdies at seven and the par-5 11th but stumbled with bogeys at 13 and 14. A 30-foot birdie putt at the fairway-less par-3 17th provided a boost but he found sand and water at 18 for a closing double bogey.

"I didn''t hit the ball that poorly today but hit bad putts in the middle part of the round," Woods said.

Woods said he no expectations for the week because, "I didn''t know what I was going to feel like after each round," but added, "I''ve finally been able to switch into a competitive mode again."

Woods again flashed moments of his finest shotmaking to excite those seeking signs he can recapture the form that made him a dominating superstar.

"Great to have you back Tiger - Special!" US President-elect Donald Trump tweeted before the round began.

Until this week, Woods had not played competitively since August 2015, when he shared 10th at the Wyndham Championship.

Woods closed with double bogeys on two of the last three holes Thursday to shoot 73 in ending his career-longest 466-day layoff but recovered Friday with a bogey-free 65.

It was his lowest round relative to par since the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational, the most recent of his 79 career victories.

Woods, three shy of Sam Snead''s all-time PGA Tour win mark, plays Sunday''s final round alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Strong tee shots and irons set up short birdie putts on the first three holes for Woods, who sank a tense six-foot par putt at four after missing the green with his approach, then blasted out of a bunker at the par-3 fifth and watched the ball roll into the cup for birdie.

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Runda sport tournament on this month

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Runda sport tournament on this month

The chairman of Runda Football Club, Phillemon Rengi, says football lovers at the town will be in for another treat this month, when they host the fourth annual sports tournament.

He said the tournament will be held at Runda village from 17 to 18 December.

Rengi said the tournament has been growing in leaps and bounds since its inception.

The tournament was founded in 2013 by three youths from Runda village, Rengi, Daniel Shoto Nyundu, and Venantius Sikongo Kudumo.

“The tournament started with a mere four village teams, competing for a football trophy and cash prize of N$3 000 and in that year it was well attended, he said.

He said in 2014 the prize money increased to N$5 000.

“The tournament was growing in stature by now and Manyota United won the tournament, because in that year the tournament was well marketed, with more youth joining hands and pumping in money.

“Nine teams showed up for the 2015 showpiece at Runda village, and Runda Football Club reclaimed the trophy once, taking home a whopping N$3 500, a floating trophy and 18 gold medals,” he said.

For this year, the cash prize has increased to N$10 000.

“A brand new soccer trophy is at stake in this year''s edition and because this is a grassroots tournament, it is rooted in unearthing talent in villages.”

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NRU and NSSR prepare for Craven Week

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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NRU and NSSR prepare for Craven Week

The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) and Namibia Secondary School Rugby (NSSR) have kicked off their preparations for the Craven Week and 2023 Rugby World Cup, starting with a training camp at Affiespark for coaches and players.

A record number of school coaches attend the level II coaching course facilitated by Henry Kemp.

More than 100 schoolboys attend the preparation camp and were tested thoroughly on Friday and Saturday by PD Stoman.

As from this week the boys will be trained in world rugby values, anti-doping and core skills including unit & team attack, defence and default plays.

The training camp was made possible by the support of the NRU, Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool, Fruit & Veg, Namib Mills and Namica.

SPORT REPORTER

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Shilongo nets a brace

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Shilongo nets a braceShilongo nets a brace The two Namibian strikers at the South African Platinum Stars, Benson Shilongo and Henrico Botes, have had a good week.

Namibian Benson Shilongo''s two goals were not enough to award his South African side Platinum Stars victory on Saturday, as Polokwane City (Dikwena) edged them out 3-2 in an Absa Premiership game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The win takes Rise and Shine to fourth spot on the league standings, while struggling Dikwena remain 13th on the table.

The home side began the match brightly with Robert Ng''ambi and Bonginkosi Ntuli both missing the target in the opening stages of the game.

But Sipho Jembula fired Polokwane into the lead with a right-footed finish in the 12th minute as the visitors punished the Dikwena defence.

Former Golden Arrows striker Ntuli''s attempt narrowly missed the target 16 minutes later, as Stars struggled to penetrate the Polokwane defence.

Dikwena had a chance to equalise in the 38th minute, but Solomon Mathe''s header flew over the crossbar without troubling Rise and Shine goalkeeper George Chigova.

Mathe then netted an unfortunate own-goal as he headed Jabulani Maluleke''s free-kick into the back of the net five minutes later as Polokwane headed into the tunnel at the break with a 2-0 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Dikwena eight minutes into the second half as Rodney Ramagalela scored to make it 3-0 to the visitors.

Dikwena then took control of the match as they pressed Rise and Shine, while searching for goals in order to restore parity.

Benson Shilongo did pull one back for the home side in the 71st minute with a powerful right-footed shot, which beat Polokwane goalkeeper Chigova hands down.

The momentum was now with Stars and three minutes later, Namibia international Shilongo made it 3-2 with a decent header.

Stars launched late attacks in search of the equalising goal, but Polokwane held on to their slender lead as they emerged 3-2 winners.

Meanwhile, veteran striker Henrico Botes finally laboured to 50 goals in domestic football with his half-century coming a decade since he arrived in the Absa Premiership from his native Namibia.

Botes scored a consolation penalty last night in Platinum Stars'' 3-1 defeat to Free State Stars at Goble Park Stadium last week.

Though a return of 50-goals in 195 starts since he started playing in the PSL in 2005 might easily be dismissed as a low return but the Platinum Stars forward remains striker that coaches always believe in due to his functionality.

He is now only the 15th player contracted to a PSL club at the moment to have surpassed the half century mark which demonstrates just the lack of consistent scorers in this league.

Collins Mbesuma is the only player who has gone past the 100-goals mark of the players currently playing top flight football.

Botes who turns 37 this month has been involved in all of Dikwena''s games since returning to the club at the beginning of this season starting nine and coming on as a substitute in three. Last night''s goal was his first of the season.

The Namibian-born has also played for both Moroka Swallows and Bidvest.

SUPERSPORTS AND KICK OFF

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Villagers welcome Shikongo home

December 4, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Villagers welcome Shikongo homeParents must stop hiding their kids - Mathews More than N$8 000 was donated to Ananias Shikongo when he presented his medals to community members at his home village.

Paralympic gold medallist Ananias Shikongo and his guide, Even Tjuviju, received a warm welcome at Shikongo''s home village on Saturday.

The event was attended by people from all walks of life from Oshikoto Region and other northern regions.

In a telephonic interview with Namibian Sun Shikongo''s father Jason could not hide his joy.

He mentioned that he for some reason knew that his son was going to come back home with something, when they spoke before jetting off to Brazil.

“I was firstly excited to just hear that my son has won a medal, in a country far from home, and I could not even wait to see him,” he said.

He added that what his son has done should serve as a motivation to other people with disabilities to engage in the sport they like to do.

“I have two others with disabilities at home but because of the means we are unable to send them to school and it pains me because I want them to excel like Ananias,” he said.

Shikongo''s mother, Aili Mathews, was heard ululating as she celebrated her son''s achievement.

“I am very excited about what Ananias has done but I also want him to continue and do even better than what he did this year,” she said.

She indicated that what Shikongo has achieved will be a motivation to a lot of people with disabilities and called on parents who have children with disabilities to give them the necessary support and not hide them at home.

Shikongo was overjoyed by the attendance of people who followed them from Onathinge where they started with the road show to Oonyulaye at the Okankolo constituency offices.

“I am really happy that this event was a success, and happy that so many people from all walks of life and different age groups came to meet us,” he said.

Shikongo said an amount of N$8 340 was pledged, with the highest pledge made by Swapo Party''s Helmut Angula.

He was accompanied by the Paralympic team, and started with a road show at Onathinge, proceeded to Onayena and stopped at Okankolo village before proceeding to the constituency offices at Onyuulaye where the event took place.

The event was attended by the constituency councillor, Hans Nambondi, the Oshikoto governor, Henock Kankoshi, and other invited guests.

KAINO NGHITONGO

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