NNPC not on same page as sport ministry

The Namibia National Paralympic Committee still have concerns over how a trip for the country’s Paralympians to the games was done.

At a press conference last week, the media was informed that some of the selected athletes travelled to the Netherlands in preparation for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris went without the blessings of the NNPC committee.

“The guys that went to Europe went without us really understanding what is going on. It seems the ministry provided funding to the athletes and coach without informing us.

“As the body responsible for the athletes, we deserve to be told what has really happen,” an NNPC source told Sport Wrap.

It is alleged that the ministry and NPC have not been on the same page for a while now. This has allegedly created a communication vacuum between both parties, which also casts doubt on the prospects and well-being of the selected athletes.

“We just want to make sure that the athletes are well taken care of. In the past we have been at the centre of things and that is why today we can say the team has always been a success when traveling out.

“More recently things have however not been that smooth between us and the Government,” the source added.

NPC secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya was reluctant to confirm or deny the allegations.

“This is a confidential matter, but I will soon have proper answers for you,” Hamukwaya said.

Namibia will be sending a team of five confirmed competitors. Ananias Shikongo, Chris Kinda, Lahja Ishitile and Johannes Nambala (all visually impaired track sprinters) as well as Petrus Karuli, another sprinter with a disability in one arm, were the names read out at the press conference.

The guides to the visually impaired sprinters will be Even Tjiuiju, Sem Shimanda, Onesmus Nekundi, Sydney Kamuuaruma, Hatago Murere and Kelvin Goagoseb.

The proposed inclusion of a sixth athlete, Katelynn Venter representing archery, was still due to be confirmed.

Officials and management accompanying the squad will be team manager Agnes Hausiku; team administrator Suzette Guims; the NNPC's president and secretary-general Johannes Litwayi and Mike Hamukwaya, respectively; physiotherapist Ruan Mocke; medic Simon O’Brien; attache Tangi Le Guennec, journalist Hesron Kapanga; and Namibia Sport Commission chief administrator Freddy Mwiya.

Attempts to get comments from the ministry of sport proved unsuccessful before this newspaper went for print.



Previous successes

The 2024 Paralympic Games will start in Paris on 28 August, shortly after the completion of the Olympic Games, and continues until 8 September.

Namibia first competed at the Paralympics in 1992 at the Barcelona Games, but was absent at a number of following editions.

In 2008 in Beijing, men’s discus thrower Reginald Benade took the bronze which was the country’s first-ever medal in the history of the Paralympic Games.

The country won its first gold and silver medal at the 2012 Paralympics through Johanna Benson, a sprinter with cerebral palsy.

Ananias Shikongo went on to win a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics after winning the 200m T11 race for visually impaired men. Shikongo also scooped bronze medals in the 100 and 400 m T11 races.

His compatriot Johannes Nambala also won two silver medals in the men’s T13 400 m and 100 m races.