Local wrestlers to thrive in the spotlight

The Namibia Wrestling Federation (NWF) Desert Regional week-long training development camp will culminate in the tournament this Saturday at Windhoek Gymnasium school hall.

The event aims to foster the development of wrestling in Namibia and provide under 17 wrestlers with the necessary preparation for the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, scheduled for the end of July.

Spectators are invited to witness thrilling wrestling matches, as athletes compete for glory and strive to secure their positions for the World Championships in Istanbul.

This tournament will showcase the talent, determination and dedication of these young wrestlers, providing a unique opportunity for the public to experience the excitement of the sport first-hand.

The week-long training camp and tournament will bring together local wrestling clubs from Namibia as well as representatives other African countries. This gathering promises to create an atmosphere of sportsmanship, cultural exchange, and camaraderie among athletes and wrestling enthusiasts.

Namibia Media Holdings’ Network Television (NTV) will broadcast the tournament live, including on https://oneuptwo.com and its social media platforms.

In accordance with United World Wrestling’s strong willingness to support all members, in cooperation with the Namibia Wrestling Federation, a level 2 Coaching / Introduction to Refereeing course was proposed.

The objectives of the programme include:

• Learning wrestling based on the new United World Wrestling (UWW) education path and Olympic wrestling rules;

• Introduction to refereeing;

• Risk management with respect to the safety and physical integrity of practitioners;

• Familiarisation of coaches with the UWW training system

Distinguished guests from United World Wrestling are in attendance to facilitate the training and provide invaluable expertise.

Vincent Aka, a renowned coaches educator, is present to share his wealth of knowledge and insights with aspiring coaches from the participating nations. Aka (47) is an Ivorian-born French former freestyle heavyweight wrestler, who competed in three Olympic Games from 2000 to 2008. He also won a silver medal at the 2005 European championship.

Aka said: “At the UWW we opened this special Regional Development program to tour around countries and have training camps, coaching camps and a tournament. In this way, we want to spread wrestling to each country in Africa.

“It is always good for wrestlers to attend development programs like this, because it exposes them to competition outside their comfort zone and they get to learn a lot, which helps them become better wrestlers.”

Additionally, Charl Villet, a respected referee educator, is on hand to offering guidance and training to referees involved in the tournament.

Namibian wrestlers are really excited and are enjoying the development program. Romio Goliath, who captained the national team that won medals in the African Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia during May, said: “This is really exciting for us and we get to learn a lot and add to our skills and improve our game.”

The Namibia Wrestling Federation believes that fostering the development of wrestling in Africa is paramount to nurturing the next generation of talented wrestlers and promoting the sport’s growth and popularity on the continent. The highlight of the week will be the tournament this Saturday.

NAMIBIA’S TOP PERFORMERS AT THE AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, 15-21 MAY IN TUNISIA:

Calvin Dreyer, 45 kg, Gold (Greco Roman) & Bronze (freestyle)

Lafras Uys Junior, 92 kg, Silver (Greco Roman) & Bronze (freestyle)

Lazarus Haimbodi, 55 kg, Bronze (Greco Roman)

Darian Mouton (U17) 51 kg, 4th place (Greco Roman)

Ester Abraham, junior women 59 kg, Silver

Virinao Nguatjiti, junior 55 kg, Bronze (Greco Roman)

Alex Haininga, senior 55 kg, Bronze (Greco Roman)

Romio Goliath, senior 60 kg, Bronze (Greco Roman)