Namibian Sun

Jerry gets free haircuts for life Barber commits to boxer Jeremiah ‘Low-Key’ Nakathila is received an offer that will spare him quite a bit of money.

JESSE KAURAISA

Namibian boxer Jeremiah Nakathila has been offered free haircuts for the rest of his life by a local barber and boxing fan.

Nakathila has been rising to fame since 2013 and he has almost reached the top of his career at the age of just 27.

Benjamin Philipus, a barber who has been impressed by the boxer's rise to fame, has presented him with a voucher guaranteeing as many free haircuts as he wants.

“This barber has been a fan of my boxing style for many years, but I did not know about him.

“So I decided to go to his barbershop for a haircut and he was so surprised to see me.

“He told me that he has always followed me and he was looking forward to my next fight.

“The barber then told me that he was going to cut my hair for free for the rest of my life if I win my next fight,” Nakathila says.

At the time, Nakathila was scheduled to fight at the Independence boxing bonanza in March.

He successfully defended his WBO super featherweight title against Patrick Okine at the bonanza.

“After that win, the barber told me that I must not even bring my wallet when I come to his barbershop because he will be cutting my hair for free.

“I am really happy about that because he has been cutting my hair for free since then. He's a great man,” Nakathila said.

Nakathila further encouraged young boxers to follow their dreams in order to achieve success.

The 27-year-old is the current WBO Africa super featherweight title holder and has been winning many of his bouts in style.

Nakathila made his professional debut in 2013 and has gone on to win 16 fights and lost only once in his professional career.

“It is a privilege to help a guy like Jerry because he is a perfect example to our youth.

“I will honour him with any hairstyle he would like for as long as I am a barber,” Philipus said.

Kofi Annan's death a great loss to AfricaColleagues and leaders remember their friend Described as a gentle statesmen, the death of Kofi Annan has reverberated through the continent.

Kofi Annan was a true gentleman, committed to the ideals of the United Nations and in particular, to the realisation of economic development for Africa.

These were the words of Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh, who worked under the late Annan as former UN assistant secretary-general, as well as his special representative for Liberia. He praised Annan for working tirelessly to craft the eight Millennium Development Goals.

“I feel a great sense of loss. I remember him as a kind person, very courteous and very generous towards his staff, but also very demanding of his staff,” Kalomoh related his memories of his former mentor.

“He was a friend, a statesman. Ghana has lost a citizen, Africa has lost a patriot and the world has lost humanitarian,” he said.

Annan, who became the seventh secretary-general of the UN died on Saturday morning at the age of 80.

His passing was announced in a statement issued by the Kofi Annan Foundation. According to the statement, his wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina remained by his side during his last days.

He was in a hospital in Swizerland.

“Kofi Annan was a global statesman and a deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world. During his distinguished career and leadership of the United Nations he was an ardent champion of peace, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law,” the statement read. Stunned by the news, SADC chair president Hage Geingob said the news of his passing comes as a great shock.

“The loss of Kofi Annan, an exemplary son of Ghana, leaves a huge void for the African continent and humanity at large which he has served as a courageous humanitarian with immeasurable passion and distinction,” Geingob said.

President of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani said Annan will be remembered for revitalising the UN and putting human rights at the core of its mission. The chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, also expressed his sorrow with the passing of Annan.

“Kofi Annan will remain a source of inspiration and encouragement. Through his numerous accomplishments, he has made Africa proud.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

Nghaamwa in fencing fiasco

The governor of the Ohangwena Region, Usko Nghaamwa, has fenced off part of the road reserve in the busiest part of Ondangwa, accusing the town council of failing to protect his business.

Nghaamwa's Oshinanene complex is situated along Ondangwa's main road that leads to Oniipa and according to the council, his decision has endangered many people because his business is situated where many pedestrians and vehicles are active.

Nghaamwa said although his decision is coming under heavy criticism and is being labelled as tribalistic, the town council has failed for years to protect his complex from illegal street vendors and an illegal taxi terminal.

He said the situation got so bad he had to close some of his business operations.

“The illegal operations at my premises were killing my businesses. There was a filling station but I decided to close it down because customers had no access to it due to the illegal taxi terminal. My tenants are always complaining that there is no parking for their customers or their delivery vehicles. It was just a chaos and town council has not taken action despite the fact that I have made complaints,” Nghaamwa said.

“I was left with no other option but to protect my business. Now that I fenced off my complex there are some leaders of Ondangwa town saying that I fenced off the place because I am an Oshikwanyama speaking doing business in Ondonga. I am not happy with this.”

Nghaamwa said that when he was installing the palisade fence he was approached by the town council and Roads Authority (RA) officials, saying he was his actions were illegal as the fence is in the road reserve. He added they ordered him to stop while they were identifying his plot boundary.

“I stopped. However, they failed to identify were my plot ends so I proceeded because I must protect my business,” he said.

The Ondangwa town council's CEO Ismael Namgongo said they understand Nghaamwa's actions but added that he has placed many people in danger. He said they are engaging him to remove the fence because it is installed within the road reserve.

“It is true that it used to be chaos at that complex.

We are aware that it used to be a haven of illegal taxi operations and street vendors. Customers use to find it difficult to access shops at the complex. The owner of the complex however decided to fence his plot off without consulting us. We approached him together with RA and we engaged him in that he has occupied the road reserve space which may endanger residents,” Namgongo said.

“We are busy identifying his plot marks.

“The place was surveyed a long time ago and we need suitable equipment to identify the boundaries.”

On the tribal utterance, Namgongo said that is not aware of it and in Ondangwa they respect Nghaamwa as a pioneer of the local business community.

Nghaamwa said that once the town council commits to protect his business he will remove the fence.

“My tenants and I are not happy to be operating in a fenced off area. I only need town council to protect my premises then I will remove the fence. I also want to re-open my filling station once everything is back to normal,” he said.

ILENI NANDJATO

Omusati youngsters eye cup recordTeam confident of success The Skorpion Zinc tournament is fast approaching and coaches have begun playing mind games ahead of the youth tournament. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

The defending champions of the Skorpion Zinc Cup, Omusati, are planning to make it four titles in a row at the 2018 Skorpion Zinc under-17 Cup.

The defending champions are to face Zambezi, //Karas, and Khomas in Group C.

Having won the cup on for three consecutive years, Omusati want to triumph yet again, but under a different coach this time.

Iipinge Shikongo will be in charge of the team this time around as they head into the competition at Grootfontein’s Omulunga Stadium from 24 to 27 August.

“The head coach moved to Windhoek sometime this year, so for progress’s sake, I picked up from him.

“I always tell the boys that others have made their history and won their trophies, so if they can, why can’t you?” Shikongo said.

Shikongo, who was the team’s assistant coach last year, started coaching in 2010 as an assistant coach for Blue Birds.

He says past victories have boosted the regional team and, most importantly, showed the rural youngsters that they are not inferior.

Hosts Otjozondjupa are drawn in Group A, with Kavango East, Hardap and Kunene. Group B consists of Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omaheke and Erongo, while group C has //Karas, Omusati, Khomas and Zambezi.

Infrastructure first JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

I must say I’m impressed with the amount of energy and effort the new minister of sport, Erastus Uutoni, has been putting in since he took office.

He has come up with some great ideas and has ensured that policy approvals are done at a faster rate than before.

I understand that the minister has also called for the decentralisation of sport codes.

The minister also wants a museum set up where we can honour our athletes that have excelled at international events.

“I want to see Windhoek, Swakopmund and Rehoboth playing rugby with Oshakati here,” Uutoni said in the north a fortnight ago.

It is good that the minister urged the development of rugby in northern Namibia and the establishment of a rugby academy, and appealed to the business sector to help develop rugby fields.

But it is important to note that a lack of infrastructure is the main reason why some of these ideas are hard to put into practice.

Many sport administrators have had such aspirations but their dreams to develop certain sport codes have been futile.

It is impossible to expect rugby and hockey to be played in regions where there are no fields for these sports. Some towns do not have any sport stadiums.

I don’t expect towns outside Windhoek to have top-notch facilities because even the capital city itself has only two stadiums that meet international standards.

How can one expect rural towns to have sport facilities if the capital city is struggling?

It is therefore the job of the government to ensure that facilities are in place before they start encouraging people in regions to introduce new sport codes.

As a man coming from Otjinene in the Omaheke Region, I believe that seeing a rugby match played at that town is an impossible dream.

That is because the sport ground at Otjinene has a gravel surface and it is impossible to play rugby or hockey on gravel.

Sport has failed to develop in some parts of the country because there is no infrastructure to accommodate that kind of sport.

It is sad that 28 years after independence, only a few towns in this country have any sport facilities at all, which I must say are not of the highest standard either.

Yes, we do want a nice museum to honour our great athletes, but can the government build that museum for us?

I believe that the answer will be that there is no money for such a building.

Yes, we do want schools in the north and other rural areas to start playing rugby, but will the government provide the necessary facilities?

I bet there is no money for that. That has been the usual response of the government.

It is up to the government to make such facilities available before asking why some sports are not played in some regions.

Regional governors must join hands with the business community to organise and sponsor sports indabas in their regions for sport advancement.

jesse@namibiansun.com

Mental health counts There are two sides the to the tragedy of that of Zenobia Seas, and worse, her daughter whose life was snuffed out a few days before her third birthday.

There are those who say that she would have deserved the death penalty for killing her own child, especially through the act of suffocation, which takes a while and is a direct contact murder. Others are more forgiving, in particular because she have such a heartfelt guilty plea in court while unable to control her crying.

On Friday morning, she was sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison, a sentence handed down by seasoned High Court judge, Christie Liebenberg.

It is a tragedy. That is undeniable. However, it is a tragedy that could have been avoided.

Namibians do not take mental health issues into account and neither do we consider them serious. There would certainly have been a downward spiral for Seas, which essentially, should have been noticed by those nearest and dearest to her.

Seas alleged abuse from Ava’s father in her guilty plea. If so, why was this abuse allowed to continue? What hand did Seas have in staying in the relationship? She told the court her father did not approve but could not stop her.

All in all, Seas was left with her reality of her life and with her responses to her particular challenges. While we can imagine that no one could have seen it coming, there should be better support for those suffering with mental health issues or those under severe duress. Seas’ diary entries alone, those she made after she killed her daughter, indicate a woman entirely on the edge.

And if it were so that she felt she could not go to family or friends, where could she have turned?

Namibians do not lead cushy lives … as they say, the struggle is real and hence, we need to be far more aware of mental health issues and if we feel that a friend, family member of colleague is in such a place, we need to take action.

NSFAF reintegration not set in stoneNo decision made yet, says board chairman The board chairman of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund says a study still has to be done on the best way to run the fund.

The reintegration of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) into the higher education ministry is not set in stone and a decision could still be made that could see the fund continue as a parastatal.

This is according to NSFAF board chairperson Jerome Mutumba, who said the media were putting the cart before the horse in their reporting on the fund.

Higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi said in December 2016 during a media briefing at State House that it would be better to reintegrate NSFAF back into her ministry.

Mutumba said a study would determine whether it would be better to leave the fund as is, or incorporate it into the ministry.

“The issue of NSFAF's reintegration is still a subject of ongoing investigation. Cabinet instructed us to commission a study. We have gone out for an expression of interest, so that an independent study can be done, so that we can unpack the issues around NSFAF,” Mutumba said. Mutumba also touched on the subject of the Fund's CEO Hilya Nghiwete, who was suspended in April pending an investigation.

In her suspension letter Nghiwete was accused of maladministration and administrative corruption. Mutumba said the board had done all it could to ensure Nghiwete's disciplinary process was finalised in the shortest possible time. He said the suspension was an attempt to ensure there was compliance with the corporate governance standards the board was adhering to.

“The timeline given for the disciplinary hearing is around October, but we are looking for an earlier meeting,” Mutumba added.

King Elifas faces embarrassmentGeingob and others move to protect Elifas's dignity The ailing Ondonga king, who has been ordered to testify in a court case, should not be “paraded in court of law and embarrassed in front of his people”, President Hage Geingob has told the litigants.

The government and the Ondonga traditional leaders are burning the midnight oil in a bid to save King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas from potential embarrassment when he takes the stand in the Oshakati High Court. Several high-placed sources have confirmed to Namibian Sun that there was intense behind-the-scenes manoeuvring to avert the king's court appearance in connection with an application brought by dismissed Ondonga councillors against his decision to fire them.

The dismissed councillors were summoned by President Hage Geingob to State House last week, where discussions centred on the protection of the king's dignity, according to sources. Geingob is also set to meet a delegation of the opposition faction, who have now taken the place of the fired aides of the king.

The king's spokesperson, Naeman Amalwa, said they could not meet Geingob last week due to a prior engagement and because they had not been officially invited to State House at that stage.

“When I notified the king's council they said that we must not go until they invited us officially and that must be after Saturday's meeting,” Amalwa said.

Geingob's intervention followed that of Founding President Sam Nujoma, who had met with the king days before the State House meeting. Nujoma had apparently admonished and chided the dismissed leaders for dragging the king to court and also for lodging an application to have him testify.

Oshakati High Court Judge Maphios Cheda recently granted an order compelling Elifas to give oral testimony in the matter in which the councillors are challenging their dismissal. Cheda ordered that the legal teams set a date within 14 days on which the king would be required to testify.

The king's legal team had unsuccessfully argued that the application to have the king testify was an attempt to test his mental capabilities in an open court.

“All that Geingob wants is to uphold King Elifas's dignity. The first thing the president asked the delegation was what they were doing to protect the king's dignity. He said that the king is a dignified man and cannot be embarrassed by taken to court,” a source privy to the State House meeting said.

In letters addressed to the two factions, Geingob made it clear that he was not interfering with the functions of the judiciary.

“I am engaging you, and thereafter with your adversaries, from the point of view of a person who seeks to ensure that the dignity of Tatekulu Kauluma (Elifas) is not negated by having him paraded in court of law and embarrassed in front of his people,” read the letters.

“Somehow it just does not feel right to me as the president of this nation, who is personally known to Omukwaniilwa (king), his family and the wider Ondonga community leadership.”

Vilho Kamanya, who spoke on behalf of the dismissed leaders, said they returned from State House happy.

“The message is very clear and the Ondonga community must be at peace. All that was going on about our firing was lies. We engaged the president and his delegation and we return happily,” Kamanya said.

The dismissed councillors are former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma, former secretary Joseph Asino, senior headman for the Ondangwa district John Walenga, Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.

Although they are still gazetted, the king has replaced the dismissed councillors with new councillors, including Nujoma's former bodyguard, Nepando Amupanda.

Guilty plea shortens Seas'

Child killer Zenobia Seas was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment on Friday morning by High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg.

She had pleaded guilty to a charge of murdering her daughter, Ava Owoses, just shy of three years old, as well as a charge of obstruction of justice, a week ago.

Liebenberg said he would “impose a lengthy custodial sentence even though it will not bring back the life of an innocent child.” He added that he hoped the sentence would act as a deterrent for others.

She was sentenced to 25 years for murder and one year for obstruction of justice, with the two sentences to run concurrently.

Seas was visibly nervous, fidgeting with her hands, and often became teary. She acknowledged each reference Liebenberg made to the murder by nodding. In his judgement, Liebenberg said that it took roughly an hour for Ava to die.

She killed her daughter on 26 September 2016 by suffocating her with a blanket in her car near Henties Bay.

The judge said there was no explanation as to why Seas had purchased clothes and toys, along with food, before she fetched Ava from school around 12:00 that day. However, he said the presence of wood and charcoal indicated that she had planned to set the car alight.

He also made mention of the fact that Ava's father, Immanuel Joslin Owoseb, was in a new relationship and that his girlfriend would give birth on the same date as Ava's birthday.

“In the absence of any satisfactory explanation by Seas, I can only come to one conclusion and that is that Seas planned the murder,” Liebenberg said.

Earlier in the week, Seas gave a tearful confession in the High Court, alluding to apparent abuse from Ava's father. Seas told the court that after murdering her child, she sat in the car and wrote in her diary. Afterwards she set the vehicle alight. The diary was meant to be left behind as a suicide note.

However, the fire was extinguished by neighbourhood watch members and Seas was later arrested at the scene.

Seas said she and the child's father had been in a relationship since January 2013. He allegedly promised to marry her after she gave birth, but did not keep his promise.

She further alleged that Owoseb was abusive, consumed alcohol excessively and dated other women. She said he had told her that she was worthless and that he only used her for sex and money.

Seas said on two occasions Owoseb had assaulted her front of their daughter, who was then one year old.

Namibia stumbles in Zambia JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Namibia’s national netball team performed way below expectations at the just-ended African Women’s Netball Championship in Zambia.

The team only managed to win one of the six matches they played at the competition.

They lost their last game of the competition 76-52 against Zambia on Sunday afternoon.

In the match against Botswana on Saturday, a sloppy display by Namibia’s senior netball team cost them their second win.

Namibia lost the match 56-59 at the championship hosted by the Netball Association of Zambia in Lusaka from 13 to 18 August. This championship is also acted as the 2019 Netball World Cup qualifiers.

The Desert Jewels have now lost five of their six matches at the games, winning only one.

On Saturday, Namibia started the match well, setting no foot wrong in the first quarter as both teams played a high-tempo game, which ended 16-15 in Namibia’s favour.

Shortly into the second quarter, sloppy play by the Namibians who failed to capitalise on the interception they won after leading brought Botswana back into the game as they forced Namibia into making errors to end the quarter 28-29 in Botswana’s favour.

In the third quarter, Botswana came back even more composed and ran havoc on the Desert Jewels for a 40-46 scoreline.

In the last quarter of the match, the Namibian team tried their level best to bring down the score, but their long passes were largely intercepted by Botswana who capitalised on whatever scoring opportunity they got for the final score of 56-59.

Namibia lost 47-86 to Malawi on Friday, 44-61 to Zimbabwe on Thursday in their third game of the tournament and 47-72 to Uganda in their opening match on Tuesday. The Desert Jewels won their second match against Kenya (54-34) on Wednesday.

Six countries - Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Uganda and Kenya - are battling it out for ranking points as well as a place at next year’s World Cup.

Malawi, who already qualified for the World Cup, competed at the event for match fitness as well as ranking points.

-Additional reporting by Nampa

Johannes and Reinold take Old Mutual racesHaitope wins 10km The biggest road-running competition in the country, the Old Mutual Marathon, attracted thousands of runners from across the country.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Helalia Johannes and Tomas Reinord won the men’s and women’s Old Mutual Marathon 21-kilometre races in Windhoek on Saturday.

Reinord finished ahead of Jeremiah Shaliaxwe, while Kefas Kondjashili was in third place in the men’s 21km race.

Helalia Johannes dominated the women’s 21km, followed by Lavinia Haitope in second and Leeana Ekandjo in third place.

The 10km men’s race was dominated by Daniel Paulus (first) and Simon Paulus (second). Ella Uugwanga secured third place.

The women’s 10km race was won by Ester Haitope, with Victoria Kaliteka in second place. Elisabeth Shivute ran the race of her life for a third-place finish.

“We can definitely confirm that those are the winners of the races, but we still have to get the times from the time keeper. I believe that the time slots will be given to the media by Monday,” one of the organisers said.

The first leg of the series was held in Swakopmund in June, while the second leg was in Keetmanshoop in July. The third leg was held in Oshakati, also last month.

Winners of this year’s Old Mutual Victory Races include Mynhardt Kauanivi, Sophia Nambambi, Kefas Kondjashili and Josephine Dumeni.

Old Mutual has been the main sponsor of the event for the past 18 years.

CAF pays tribute to Annan

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has paid tribute to the late Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian, who served as the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) for several years.

In a statement, CAF president Ahmad Ahmad paid tribute to Annan.

“It is with sadness that in my capacity as president of the Confederation Africaine de Football, I learned of the death Kofi Annan in Bern (Switzerland) at the age of 80.

“He was an illustrious person of great African history and ex-secretary-general of the UN between 1997 and 2006.

“A diplomat, economist and statesman known for his legendary wisdom and good political sense, Kofi Annan made his mark with his exceptional qualities of resolving international conflicts, opening of dialogue in areas devastated by wars and conflicts, revolts and his involvement in the development of the African continent, of which he knew all the assets and torments.

“Many times he helped bring people together and fostered peace. A keen football lover, he often made presentations in major African football matches.”

NAMPA/ANA

Onambula United, African Lions relegated

Onambula United and African Lions were relegated from the North West First Division (NWFD), after failing to achieve victory in their must-win matches played in Otjiwarongo and Tsandi over the weekend.

Onambula's relegation to the Omusati second division means their feeder team, Young Generation, have been demoted to the Tsandi social league. Both teams are owned by one owner, Vaino Amuka, and thus cannot play in the same league, as per the Namibian Football Association (NFA) statutes.

According to the statutes, no natural or legal person, including holding companies and subsidiaries, may exercise control over more than one club or group, whenever the integrity of any match or competition could be jeopardised.

Onambula lost their match 1-0 against Eleven Warriors on Saturday, while African Lions only scooped one point in what was a must-win game against Touch & Go in a goalless draw on Sunday, which condemned them to the Otjozondjupa second division.

In other matches played on Saturday in group B, Oshikuku Young Stars defeated Ongwediva City 1-0, while African Motto beat KK Palace 1-0. Military School Okahandja and Golden Boys played to a goalless draw.

On Sunday in group B, Eleven Warriors defeated Oshikuku Young Stars 1-0, while Onambula United forfeited their match against Ongwediva City.

Meanwhile, group A winners, Military School Okahandja and African Motto, the winners of group B, will duel for a spot in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) next season.

NWFD vice-chairperson Lawrence Kandundu confirmed that the playoffs will take place over two weekends.

“The first leg of the matches will be played on 25 August, with the return leg set for 1 September,” he said.

The winner will join already promoted Young Brazilians from Karasburg and Rundu-based Julinho Sporting in the NPL this coming season.

NAMPA

Ottile rises in chess worldEight-year-old returns with gold from Kenya A young Namibian chess prodigy has shown a clean pair of heels to Africa's best.

Namibian chess player, eight-year-old Ottilie Yorokee Hinda, has returned with a gold medal from the 10th African Youth Chess Championship held, in Kisumu, Kenya.

The competition was held from 12 to 19 August, with a total of 142 players from 13 countries competing.

East Africa was represented by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Other participating countries included Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Cameroon and Somalia. North Africa was represented by Egypt and Algeria.

There were 12 categories during the one-week tournament.

These included the under-8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 categories for both boys and girls. The format was a nine-round Swiss event with time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds. Namibia fielded 17 players, but Hinda stood out from the rest, as she won eight games out of nine.

The competition was very tough for the juniors, because the powerhouses of African chess, Algeria and South Africa, dominated the event.

Hinda was the top seed in her age group for the tournament. Her performance rating was 1 800, which was very good given her age.

By winning first place, she gets to participate in the World Cadet Chess Championship that will be held in Weifang, China in 2019.

Hinda is a women candidates' master (WCM), a title she obtained in Zambia, Lusaka in 2016. She is currently the youngest WCM in Africa.

This is the first time that Namibia scooped a medal at the championship. Hinda is also poised to participate in this year's World Cadet Chess Championship in Santiago, Spain from 3 to16 November, where she will meet the best in the world from Russia, India, China, Mongolia and Uzbekistan, which are just a few of the countries that produce the world's chess prodigies.

The majority of the Namibian players were new to the African youth chess event, hence they did not reap the desired results.

Nevertheless, they gained a lot of experience in the process.

Namibia had one of the highest number of entrants at the event, which testifies of the progress chess has made in the country.

African Chess Federation president Lewis Ncube announced at the closing ceremony that the federation will pay all the costs of the winners to participate in China next year.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Will Namibia win a match?Tough World Cup opponents await Namibia will play two world champions at the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup, making their chances of advancing out of the group stages nearly impossible.

With Namibia qualifying for the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup this past weekend, the focus has shifted to whether the team can finally win a match at the global spectacle.

Namibia secured their place via a comfortable 53-28 win over Kenya in Windhoek on Saturday.

This means that the country will make its sixth appearance at the global showpiece in Japan next year.

However, after five previous tournaments and 19 matches played, the country still craves its first-ever historic win.

The positives

In 2015, Namibia was drawn in a group with New Zealand, Georgia, Fiji, Argentina and Tonga.

Namibia came close to winning when they narrowly lost 17-16 to Georgia at the tournament, but made many friends with their gutsy performance against the All Blacks, losing 58-14 to the world's most feared rugby team.

They also put up an impressive showing against Tonga, going down 35-21.

The negatives

Namibia sadly holds the record for the biggest losing margin in World Cup history, after losing 142-0 against Australia at the 2003 edition.

Namibia is yet to register a single point at the World Cup.

Many people in the past criticised the team for failing to emulate the triumphs of their neighbours, South Africa, who have already lifted the cup on two occasions.

Way forward

Namibia will play in Pool B alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and the repechage winner at Japan 2019.

Kenya will play in November's repechage tournament in Marseille, where Canada, Germany and Hong Kong will also be competing for the final place at next year's World Cup.

The chances of Namibia meeting Kenya in the group stage is highly likely, if the Kenyans get the better of Canada, Germany and Hong Kong.

For Namibia sake, it will be better if the Kenyans manage to qualify, which then gives the Land of the Brave a great chance to win a match at the tournament.

New Zealand will be almost impossible to beat, while the Springboks are getting better and better under new coach Rassie Erasmus.

The Springboks and Namibia met at the 2011 World Cup, where South Africa trounced their neighbours 87-0. The odds and statistics will be against Namibia in this match.

Italy will be a team that Namibia can beat if they are mentally prepared.

The nations have never met at a World Cup, but Namibia did beat Italy 35-19 in 1991 in Windhoek and 49-24 in 2001.

Namibia also got the better of the Italian emerging team by 38-26 in Uruguay during the 2016 World Rugby Nations Cup.

They also beat Italy 38-22 during the 2017 edition.

Italy has not moved past the group stages of the World Cup in the past.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Omusati ready for Skorpion Zinc Cup

Under-17 Skorpion Zinc Cup defending champions, Omusati, are ready to defend their title at the fifth edition of the tournament this coming weekend, despite niggling worries over the fitness of some of players.

Head coach Christof Aipanda said some of the boys are attending a grade 10 symposium organised by various schools in the region, in order to prepare for their upcoming school exams.

This has resulted in them not getting much training ahead of the tourney.

Aipanda said education comes first and they had to let the boys these attend classes, but he assured supporters the team still has a group of core players and that they are ready for the competition.

“The spirit is high in camp. The boys know what is at stake and are ready to make history again, as their brothers did for the three years.”

The coach said some players ply their trade in the northern second division, which brings experience to the team.

He also said there are also football academies in the region and some of the boys are products of those academies.

Despite the short time they have had to assemble and gel, they will head into the tournament to enjoy themselves and will not be overly worried about the pressure of being the defending champions, Aipanda said.

The tournament will run from 24 to 27 August in Grootfontein and will feature 14 u-17 football teams from the country's regions, who will compete for top spot at the Omulunga Stadium.

Skorpion Zinc has injected N$1.4 million into the tournament to make it a success.

Namba Emuno from Skorpion Zinc said they are brushing up on the nitty-gritties ahead of the tournament and will have a joint media conference to inform the public about this coming weekend's footballing feast.

Emuno said there won't be an entrance fee; meaning local football lovers are welcome to swamp the field in their numbers to see the skills on display.

The draw for this year's tournament is as follows:

Group A - Kavango East, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, Oshana and Kunene.

Group B - Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omaheke and Erongo.

Group C - //Karas, Omusati, Khomas and Zambezi.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Ministerie kry skenking van vismaatskappy

Michelline Nawatises

Die ministerie van onderwys, kuns en kultuur het onlangs skenkings ter waarde van meer as N$50 000 van die Namibiese maatskappy Morcar Fishing onder die vaandel van die Friends of Education in Namibia Special Initiative (Fensi) ontvang.

Die doel van Fensi is om bydraes te werf vir die ministerie waarmee hy gehalte-onderwys op 'n doeltreffende en volhoubare wyse wil verbeter.

Die direkteur van Morcar Fishing, Tarah H. Shinavene, het dank teenoor die ministerie uitgespreek wat hulle ondersteun in die identifisering van skole in nood.

Die maatskappy het ook N$10 000 aan die Laerskool Suiderhof en die Gekombineerde Skool Danie Joubert geskenk.

In 2017 het Morcar N$50 000 geskenk aan die Forum for African Women Educationalists Namibia (Fawena)-program, wat gemik is op onderrig en opvoeding van Namibiese meisies.

Minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa het tydens die oorhandiging aan die ministerie gesê dit is 'n goeie inisiatief en dat die land meer programme moet instel.

“Ons is dankbaar vir Morcar se vrygewigheid. Hulle het bewys dat hulle bereid is om 'n lang pad saam met ons te stap.”

Emoni lyevi tali ka kondololwa

Emino lyevi lyaaheli paveta oli li omukundu omunene ngoka gwa taalela omalelo unenegopamuthigululwakalo, nuuministeli womidhingoloko owa tokola okukondolola emino ndyoka.

Uuministeli otawu ka hogolola mboka taya ka kondolola emino ndyoka li li unene omukundu monooli yoshilongo.

Oonakumina evi ndyoka pwaahena epitiko otaya ka futithwa oshimaliwa shooN$500 000 nenge oomvula 25 mondjeedhililo.

Monena omahangano ngoka haga mini evi ohaga futu omalelo gopamuthigululwakalo opo ga longele miitopolwa yawo, na kape na ekondololo lyasha kiilonga yawo.

Oomvula dha piti, iikundaneki oya e ta olweela emino lyevi ndyoka tali ningwa pwaahena omikanda pitiko nenge omahangano ngoka itaga file omalambo ngoka ga ningi konima yemino lyawo.

Omunambelewa muuministeli womidhingoloko, Ipeinge Mundjulu, okwa popi kutya omalelo gopamuthigululwakalo otaga tsuwa omukumo opo ga tule miilonga ooenvironmental management plans (EMPs).

EMP, oompangela dhoopoloeyka dha nuninwa okukwashilipaleka kutya iilonga kehe tayi ningwa momidhingoloko otayi ningwa taku landulwa oompango nomilandu dhomidhingoloko.

Shimwe shomiipumbiwa yoEMP okuulika aantu mboka taya kala nokukondolola omahala ngoka taga minwa evi.

Shoka osha hala okutya omahala agehe ngoka taga minwa evi naga kale ge na aakondololi.

Mundjulu okwa popi kutya molwaashoka emino ndyoka otali holoka owala unene kiitopolwa yokuushayi hoka ku na omalelo gopamuthigululwakalo, nena otaku kondopekwa aaleli mboka opo ya vule okukala taya kondolola emino ndyoka paku tula miilonga ooEMP, ndhoka tadhi ka gandjwa kuuministeli nokuziminwa nenge okundwa kuKomufala gwOmidhingoloko.

Nonando ongaaka, omalelo itaga ka ninga omaindilo kemino ndyoka tali ningwa nale, nomaindilo gooenvironmental clearance certificates oga pumbiwa komamino agehe ngoka taga ka tamekwa.

Mundjulu okwa popi kutya monena oya mona owala e yo komeho nelelo lyUukwambi ndyka lya ulika nale omunambelewa ngoka taka ngonga po oEMP yawo.

Okwa tsikile kutya euliko lyaakondololi yomahala ngoka otali e ta po ompito yiilonga oshowo woo ekondololo lyelongitho nawa lyomidhingoloko.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Nghaamwa e li moontamanana nelelo lyaNdangwa

Ngoloneya gwoshitopolwa shaHangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, okwa lopotwa a tula meni lyoloogolo oshitopolwa shevi shoka aniwa sha nuninwa ondjila, mehala lyiipyakidhila noonkondo mOndangwa, ta popi aniwa kutya elelo lyondoolopa olya ndopa okugamena ongeshefa ye.

Ehala lyoongeshefa lyaNghaamwa tali ithanwa, Oshinanene complex otali adhika mondjila onene yaNdangwa ndjoka yuuka kOniipa nopauyelele mboka wa gandjwa kelelo lyondoolopa, etokolo lye olya tula moshiponga aantu oyendji molwaashoka, ongeshefa ye otayi adhika pehala hapu endele aantu yokolupadhioshowo iiyenditho.

Nghaamwa okwa popi kutya nonando etokolo lye otali nyanwa koyendji mboka taya popi kutya okwa hwahwameke uukwamuhoko, okwa popi kutya okwa tokola okuninga ngaaka molwaashoka elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka olya ndopa okugamena ehala lye lyongeshefa okuza kaalandithi yomomapandanda inaya pitikwa oshowo olya ningwa ehala lyomathikameno gootaxi shaaheli paveta.

Okwa popi kutya onkalo ndjoka oya nayipala noonkondo na oya etitha a pate dhimwe dhomoongeshefa dhe.

“Ekalo ndyoka lyaali paveta pongeshefa yandje olya dhipaga oongeshefa dhandje. Opwa li osasiyona yomahooli ihe onda tokola okuyi pata molwaashoka ookastoma itadhi vulu okuya posasiyona ndjoka omolwa omathikameno gootaxi ngoka ga ningwa mpoka shaaheli pamulandu. Mboka taya hila poongeshefa dhandje otaya yenyeta kutya kape na ehala lyokuthikameka iiyenditho yookastoma nenge oohauto ndhoka hadhi e ta oostoka. Osha li epiyagano lyowala nelelo lyondoolopa olya ndopa okukatuka oonkatu nonando onda nyenyeta kuyo,” Nghaamwa a popi.

“Onda thigwa kaandi na we shoka tandi vulu okuninga ihe ndi gamene ongeshefa yandje. Ngashiingeyi sho nda tula oongeshefa yandje meni lyoloogolo ope na aaleli yamwe yelelo lyaNdangwa mboka taya popi kutya onda tula ko ondhalate molwaashoka ngame omupopi gwelaka lyOshikwanyama tandi ngeshefele mOndonga. Inandi shi nyanyukilwa.”

Nghaamwa okwa tsikile kutya sho a li ta tula po oopala dhodhalate ye okwa lombwelwa kaanambelelwa yelelo lyondoolopa oshowo aanambelelwa yoRoad Authority kutya shoka ta ningi kashi li mondjila molwaashoka ehala ndyoka olya nuninwa ondjila. Okwa popi kutya oye mu lombwele a hulithe po etokolo lye ndyoka omanga taye mu kongele oongamba dhehala lye.

“Onda mwena manga ihe oya ndopa okupandje oongamba dhandje mpoka pwa hulila ehala lyandje, ihe ngame onda tameke ishewe molwaashoka odha pumbwa okugamena ongeshefa yandje.”

Omunambelewa omukuluntu gwelelo lyaNdangwa, Ismael Namgongo okwa popi kutya oyuuviteko omaihumbato gaNghaamwa ihe okwa tula moshiponga aantu oyendji. Okwa popi kutya otaya kundathana naye opo a kuthe ko ondhalate ndjoka molwaashoka oyi li pehala pwa nuninwa ondjila.

“Oshili kutya ehala lye olya li hali kala lya piyagana okuza kaalandithi yomomapandanda oshowo aahingi yootaxi. Ookastoma odha li tadhi yi nuudhigu moongeshefa moka. Mwene gwehala lyoongeshefa okwa tokola oku tula meni lyodhalate ehala lye omanga ina ninga ekwatathano natse. Otwa ningi ekwatathano naye pamwe noRA na otwe mu tseyitile kutya ehala ndyoka a tula ondhalate oli li lya nuninwa ondjila, naashoka otashi vulu okutula moshiponga aakali pehala ndyoka. Otwiipyakidhila okumeta ko oongamba dhe. Ehala ndyoka olya tendwa nale na otwa pumbwa iilongitho yomondjila okutenda ko oongamba ndhoka.”

Kombinga yuukwamuhoko, Namgongo okwa popi kutya ke na ontseyo ya sha na okwa popi kutya yo mOndangwa oya simaneka Nghaamwa, onga gumwe gwaamanangeshefa aakulukulu mondoolopa yawo.

Nghaamwa okwa popi kutya ngele elelo lyondoolopa olya tokola okugamena oongeshefa ye nena otaka kutha ko ondhalate ndjoka a tula ko.

ILENI NANDJATO

Omukwaniilwa a taalela esithahoniGeingob nayalwe yah ala okugamena uuntu womukwaniilwa Omukwaniilwa gwaNdonga ngoka taku popiwa kutya ke na uukolele nawa okwa pewa elombwelo kOmpangu yoPombanda opo a ye a ka gandje uumbangi we mwene, naashoka tashi ka etitha esithahoni komukwaniilwa miipathi yaalelwa ye, pahapu dhomuleli gwoshilongo.

Epangelo lyaNamibia oshowo aaleli yelelo lyopamuthigululwakalo mOndonga, otaya kondjo yahala okuhupitha Omukwaniilwa gwaNdonga opo ka holoke mOmpangulilo yoPombanda yaShakati.

Onzo yi shi okwiinekelwa oya nothelekoo oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun kutya otaku ningwa omalongekidho opo omukwaniilwa ka holoke komeho yompangu, ngaashi sha tokolwa moshipotha shaaleli melelo lyaNdonga, mboka ya kuthwa miilonga komukwaniilwa omvula ya piti, na otaya pataneke etokolo lyomukwaniilwa oku ya tidhwa miilonga.

Ookansela mboka oya ithanwa kEgumbo lyEpangelo kOmupresidende Hage Geingob oshiwike sha piti, na okwa ningwa oonkundathana ndhoka dha nuninwa egameno lyuuntu womukwaniilwa.

Omupopiliko gwomukwaniilwa, Naeman Amalwa, okwa popi kutya yo inaya vula okutsakanena nomuleli gwoshilongo omolwa eipyakidhilo lye na inaya mona woo ehiyo lyopambelewa opo ya ye kEgumbo lyEpangelo.

“Sho nda tseyithile elelo olya popi kutya inatu pumbwa okuya sigo twa mono ehiyo lyopambelewa, naashoka otashi kala konima yomutumba ngoka gwa ningwa Olyomayaka.”

Eidhopo mo lyaGeingob moshikumungu shelelo lyaNdonga, olya landula sho Omukokoli Presidende Sam Nujoma ngoka a talele po omukwaniilwa konima yesiku limwe omanga inaku ningwa omutumba kEgumbo lyEpangelo. Nujoma okwa holola okuuva nayi kwe omolwa aaleli nale ngoka ya fala omukwaniilwa kompangu neindilo lyawo lyompangu opo omukwaniilwa a ka gandje uumbangi mompangulilo.

Omupanguli mOmpangu yOpombanda yaShakati, Maphios Cheda okwa gandja etokolo lyompangu moka a pula omukwaniilwa opo a ka gandje uumbangi we shi na sha netidho miilonga lyookansela mboka. Cheda okwa gandja omasiku 14 opo aakalelipo yopaveta ya tothemo esiku moka omukwaniilwa ta ka pumbwa okukala a gandja uumbangi we mwene.

Ongundu yoohahende dhomukwaniilwa odha ndopa mokupataneka etokolo ndyoka, sho dha popi kutya eindilo ndyoka lya ningwa koonakutidhwa otali kambadhala okututsa onkalo yopamadhilaadhilo yomukwaniilwa.

“Shoka Geingob a hala okukaleka po uuntu womukwaniilwa Elifas. Oshinima shotango shoka Geingob a pula ongundu ndjoka okutya otaya ningi shike mokugamenena po uuntu womukwaniilwa. Okwa popi kutya Omukwaniilwa omuntu a simanekwa onkene ita vulu okusitha ohoni paku falwa ompangu,” onzo ndjoka ta holola.

Momukanda ngoka gwa pewa oongundu ndhoka mbali tadhi kondjithathana, Geingob okwa yeleke kutya ye ita idhopo miikumungu yompangu, ihe okwa hala owala okukalekapo esimano lyuuntu womukwaniilwa Kauluma, opo ka vule okufalwa kOmpangu nokusithwa ohoni komeho yaantu ye, na oku wete kutya shoka kashi li mondjila.

Vilho Kamanya ngoka a popi pehala lyookansela mboka ya tidhwa, okwa popi kutya oya galuka kEgumbo lyEpangelo ya yanyanyukwa.

“Etumwalaka olya yela kutya aakwashigwana yaNdonga naya kale mombili. Ashike shoka sha li tashi popiwa kombinga yetidho lyetu iifundja yowala. Otwa popi nomupresidende oshowo osheendo she na otwa galuka twa nyanyukwa.”

Ookansela mboka ya tidhwa Peter Kauluma, amushanga nale gwelelo lyaNdonga, Joseph Asino, elenga enene lyoshikandjo shaNdangwa, John Walenga, Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.

Mboka oya pingenewa po nelelo epe, moka mwa kwatelwa omugameni nale gwopaumwene gwomukokoli presidende, Nepando Amupanda.

ILENI NANDJATO