Local sport is lekker
Sports is slowly returning to normal despite strict public health regulations.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
This weekend athletes will take to the stage, competing in athletics, hockey, netball and football.
In no particular order, elite Paralympic athletes Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala will be familiar faces when the senior athletics championships take place at the Independence Stadium this weekend.
It has been a while since these athletes stepped onto the track. Michael Hamukwaya, the secretary-general of the Namibia Paralympic Committee, says not only will the elite athletes feature, but there will be a new group of talent coming forth.
“Different regions will be represented as this is one of the last chances for qualification. The relay team might also feature,” said Hamukwaya.
He added that it is important to see that Athletics Namibia (AN) has included para-athletes in their event and that other federations follow suit.
Records and trendsetters
On the side of the able-bodied athletes, the likes of Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma will be in action. The two young sprinters will not push themselves too much and will take it easy, according to their coach, Henk Botha.
“This is just to give back to the Namibian supporters; do not expect great times,” he said. The young athletes are setting records which many believe will restore Namibia's name in track and field after a drought that followed the retirement of Frank Fredericks.
The two youngsters recorded two fastest 400-metre times in the world this year, with Mboma breaking a 30-year world under-20 record. The record still has to be verified by World Athletics.
This weekend's event will be hosted by AN and will serve as qualifier for the Tokyo Olympic Games set for 23 July 2021 to 8 August, as well as the Paralympic Games which will follow right after from 24 August 2021 to 5 September.
Other sports events that will take place over the weekend include the Africa Indoor Hockey qualifiers. Namibia will be represented by the senior women's team, who are looking to defend their title against hosts South Africa and Botswana. The men's senior side will also feature and will face competition from Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The games will serve as qualifiers for the 2022 Indoor Hockey World Cup in Belgium. The MTC Namibia Football League will see action-starved footballers returning to the scene. The matches are set for Windhoek's Sam Nujoma Stadium, the Mariental Stadium, the Jan Wilkens Stadium in Walvis Bay and the Mokati Stadium at Otjiwarongo. Namibia Media Holdings will broadcast the matches live on the Namibian Sun Facebook page, cross-shared on the Sport Wrap page.
Super 10 take to the field
Netball is also on the agenda for the weekend, with the Khomas Netball Super 10 set to start today with action between Wanderers 1 and Wanderers 2 to open the season at the Wanderers Sport Field.
Rugby action will also take place over the weekend in Windhoek and Rehoboth.
For all the action mentioned above, see detailed fixture log for the time and place the matches will commence.
WINDHOEK
This weekend athletes will take to the stage, competing in athletics, hockey, netball and football.
In no particular order, elite Paralympic athletes Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala will be familiar faces when the senior athletics championships take place at the Independence Stadium this weekend.
It has been a while since these athletes stepped onto the track. Michael Hamukwaya, the secretary-general of the Namibia Paralympic Committee, says not only will the elite athletes feature, but there will be a new group of talent coming forth.
“Different regions will be represented as this is one of the last chances for qualification. The relay team might also feature,” said Hamukwaya.
He added that it is important to see that Athletics Namibia (AN) has included para-athletes in their event and that other federations follow suit.
Records and trendsetters
On the side of the able-bodied athletes, the likes of Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma will be in action. The two young sprinters will not push themselves too much and will take it easy, according to their coach, Henk Botha.
“This is just to give back to the Namibian supporters; do not expect great times,” he said. The young athletes are setting records which many believe will restore Namibia's name in track and field after a drought that followed the retirement of Frank Fredericks.
The two youngsters recorded two fastest 400-metre times in the world this year, with Mboma breaking a 30-year world under-20 record. The record still has to be verified by World Athletics.
This weekend's event will be hosted by AN and will serve as qualifier for the Tokyo Olympic Games set for 23 July 2021 to 8 August, as well as the Paralympic Games which will follow right after from 24 August 2021 to 5 September.
Other sports events that will take place over the weekend include the Africa Indoor Hockey qualifiers. Namibia will be represented by the senior women's team, who are looking to defend their title against hosts South Africa and Botswana. The men's senior side will also feature and will face competition from Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The games will serve as qualifiers for the 2022 Indoor Hockey World Cup in Belgium. The MTC Namibia Football League will see action-starved footballers returning to the scene. The matches are set for Windhoek's Sam Nujoma Stadium, the Mariental Stadium, the Jan Wilkens Stadium in Walvis Bay and the Mokati Stadium at Otjiwarongo. Namibia Media Holdings will broadcast the matches live on the Namibian Sun Facebook page, cross-shared on the Sport Wrap page.
Super 10 take to the field
Netball is also on the agenda for the weekend, with the Khomas Netball Super 10 set to start today with action between Wanderers 1 and Wanderers 2 to open the season at the Wanderers Sport Field.
Rugby action will also take place over the weekend in Windhoek and Rehoboth.
For all the action mentioned above, see detailed fixture log for the time and place the matches will commence.
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