Geingob: Share success formula with others
President Hage Geingob has called on the leadership of Cricket Namibia (CN) to share their successful professionalisation formula with other sports codes.
Speaking at State House during yesterday's official sending-off ceremony for the men's senior cricket team – also known as the Eagles – Geingob said he was surprised but equally delighted that CN has achieved to professionalise their activities despite the current waning financial climate.
He was responding to statements made by CN vice president, Polly Negongo, who informed the head of state that they are the first sport code in the country that has full professional athletes.
“These guys play cricket for a living; they get salaries for playing cricket. They have contracts with CN and all they do is play cricket. You cannot have someone doing an eight to five job and expect them to compete with other countries that have professional contracts,” Negongo said.
He also informed the president that CN had also won two awards recently from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for capacity building and best development programme, where they competed with testplaying nations.
“We are currently a case study for ICC for corporate governance. They are looking at CN to show the rest of the world how to run a sporting organisation. The board has done a sterling job to bring the game of cricket to this level,” explained Negongo, who gave his assurance that they will go to the World Cup to compete, not to participate.
Geingob, meanwhile, said he was surprised to hear they are professionals.
“Why don't you talk to the other sports codes and advise them on how you have done that? Other sports are always looking at government to provide; I think you should advise others on how it is done. I am very impressed,” he stated.
Geingob told the players to be fearless and to remember they are not only representing themselves, but the country as ambassadors.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who was also in attendance, told the team that as much as she was not familiar with the sport, she was happy they had qualified for the World Cup.
Namibia qualified for the World Cup in November 2019, before being drawn into Group A of Round 1 of qualifiers with Sri Lanka and Ireland.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 is scheduled for 17 October to 14 November in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. –Nampa