Coronavirus: Sport administrators face financial losses
Many administrators revealed that they are facing financial losses following the suspension of sporting events of which many had already paid for.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
More sport events were officially suspended yesterday in the country’s attempt to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
This after two Romanian internationals who visited Namibia tested positive for the deadly COVID-19 virus.
As a result, Namibia’s head of state Hage Geingob announced a ban of public gatherings for the next 30 days.
The MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy has responded to the president’s call by cancelling the boxing bonanza, which was slated for 28 March.
“I have confirmed that the 28 March fight, Nakathila versus Amos, has indefinitely been postponed following confirmation of the COVID-19 virus on our shores.
“This constitutes a matter of public health and we cannot compromise the health and safety of the boxing public.
“We have also taken cognisance of the ban of public gatherings by President Hage Geingob for the next 30 days,” Nestor Tobias said.
The promoter added that they will inform the public once they have agreed on a new date for the fight to take place.
“The World Boxing Organisation is supportive of our decision. Boxing fans who already bought tickets need not worry because their tickets will be valid once the new date for the fight has been confirmed.”
Tobias added that the postponement will bring a financial loss to his stable, though he does not have exact figures of how much the academy will lose following the postponement of the bonanza.
“The truth is that we had already paid sanctioning fees, accommodation and travelling money for those who were coming from other countries.
“It is a really difficult situation and we will just have to live with it at this moment,” he noted.
Tobias was not the only one who suspended an event –the Namibia Football Association (NFA) announced yesterday that it had suspended all football activities with immediate effect.
NFA acting secretary-general Franco Cosmos said the association is also following the presidential directive.
“In line with that directive by Geingob and from football controlling bodies Fifa and CAF, all qualifications matches are cancelled and even Fifa issued a directive that teams are not obliged to release players. Players are also not obliged to honour their call ups,” he noted.
Namibia’s Brave Warriors’ hopes of playing in the 2020 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament, slated for April in Cameroon, also hangs in the balance.
Pundits have already predicted that it is just a matter of time before the tournament is called off or postponed due to COVID-19.
As things stand, the CAF medical team visited Cameroon recently and are expected to make a final decision as soon as possible.
“We anticipate that by this week the CAF medical team will pronounce themselves and a decision will be made whether we go or stay,” Cosmos said.
The Nedbank Citi Dash launch, which was scheduled to take place today, has also been cancelled.
However, Nedbank’s communication officer Selma Kaulinge made it clear that the event itself has not been cancelled yet.
In an email Kaulinge wrote: “Please note that at this stage, it is only the launch of the Nedbank Citi Dash which has been cancelled.
“I will communicate with you in due course with regards to the event, which was scheduled for the end of June.”
More sport events were officially suspended yesterday in the country’s attempt to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
This after two Romanian internationals who visited Namibia tested positive for the deadly COVID-19 virus.
As a result, Namibia’s head of state Hage Geingob announced a ban of public gatherings for the next 30 days.
The MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy has responded to the president’s call by cancelling the boxing bonanza, which was slated for 28 March.
“I have confirmed that the 28 March fight, Nakathila versus Amos, has indefinitely been postponed following confirmation of the COVID-19 virus on our shores.
“This constitutes a matter of public health and we cannot compromise the health and safety of the boxing public.
“We have also taken cognisance of the ban of public gatherings by President Hage Geingob for the next 30 days,” Nestor Tobias said.
The promoter added that they will inform the public once they have agreed on a new date for the fight to take place.
“The World Boxing Organisation is supportive of our decision. Boxing fans who already bought tickets need not worry because their tickets will be valid once the new date for the fight has been confirmed.”
Tobias added that the postponement will bring a financial loss to his stable, though he does not have exact figures of how much the academy will lose following the postponement of the bonanza.
“The truth is that we had already paid sanctioning fees, accommodation and travelling money for those who were coming from other countries.
“It is a really difficult situation and we will just have to live with it at this moment,” he noted.
Tobias was not the only one who suspended an event –the Namibia Football Association (NFA) announced yesterday that it had suspended all football activities with immediate effect.
NFA acting secretary-general Franco Cosmos said the association is also following the presidential directive.
“In line with that directive by Geingob and from football controlling bodies Fifa and CAF, all qualifications matches are cancelled and even Fifa issued a directive that teams are not obliged to release players. Players are also not obliged to honour their call ups,” he noted.
Namibia’s Brave Warriors’ hopes of playing in the 2020 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament, slated for April in Cameroon, also hangs in the balance.
Pundits have already predicted that it is just a matter of time before the tournament is called off or postponed due to COVID-19.
As things stand, the CAF medical team visited Cameroon recently and are expected to make a final decision as soon as possible.
“We anticipate that by this week the CAF medical team will pronounce themselves and a decision will be made whether we go or stay,” Cosmos said.
The Nedbank Citi Dash launch, which was scheduled to take place today, has also been cancelled.
However, Nedbank’s communication officer Selma Kaulinge made it clear that the event itself has not been cancelled yet.
In an email Kaulinge wrote: “Please note that at this stage, it is only the launch of the Nedbank Citi Dash which has been cancelled.
“I will communicate with you in due course with regards to the event, which was scheduled for the end of June.”
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