Otjozondjupa mass games conclude
The Otjozondjupa sports development programme aimed at identifying sports talent and establishing sports club committees in rural areas ended on Sunday.
Known as the Otjozondjupa Sports Mass Participation Programme, the mobile outreach programme was intended to link various sports committees in the constituencies to bodies such as Athletics Namibia and the Namibia Volleyball Federation.
The initiative spearheaded by the Okahandja and Omatako constituencies’ sports officer Mara Kandjiriomuini started on 18 March and ended on 31 March in the Otjozondjupa region under the auspices of the sports ministry.
The programme visited the following settlements Gross Barmen, Oruuua, Osire, Okandjira, Okondjatu, Coblens, Okamatapati, Okahitua, Okaepe, Kalkfeld, Kombat, Mkata Mangetti, Rooidag Hek, and Gam, where competitions in athletics, volleyball and Onjune were held. Onjune is a game in which contestants compete to collect the most stones.
Approximately, 550 participants took part in the games, which also saw committees elected to oversee sports activities in the areas.
Kandjiriomuini was impressed by the high turnout and the interest shown by the participants in various sports codes.
“People are hungry for sports, especially the rural community, and marginalised San community showed interest. It is high time to revive all these traditional games and create an avenue or platform where participants can display their talent,” explained Kandjiriomuini.
The sports officer also said the mass participation programme is a ministerial programme meant to create awareness among Namibians to live a healthy lifestyle through sports.
On his part, Erwin Katjiteo, who is a sports development officer at Uitkoms settlement, told New Era Sport that the initiative came to rescue some of the traditional games like Onjune which is popular among the community.
“This was an awesome experience, and our San people here are talented and need sports mentorship programmes like this which will help them to prosper in life,” he alluded.
Katjiteo also complimented the ministry’s efforts and called for the regular setup of these sports programmes.
“We have the talent here, but we need platforms like this to showcase them in addition to sports facilities, which is the biggest challenge,” he highlighted.
Farm Uitkoms is a settlement comprised mainly of the marginalised San community.
Sharing similar sentiments was the chairperson of Omatako Sports, Desmond Katjaimo, who was impressed by the participation of the youth in the programme.
“This was a good engagement. Many of our youth are unemployed, and I hope this programme will assist them to rediscover themselves as sports will open doors for them,” he noted.
Katjaimo emphasised that the initiative encourages youth to create opportunities for themselves.
“I am happy to see one of our youths selected for the volleyball team.
When the youth are doing sports, they stay away from drugs and alcohol as they will be spending most of their time practising their talent,” he alluded amongst others.
Challenges witnessed were the lack of skilled coaches, but overall organisers were happy with the volleyball and basketball equipment availed by the ministry.