Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Nedbank Citi Dash is back for its fifth edition, with this year’s race set for 6 and 7 September 2025 at a new venue, the Vegkop Stadium at Windhoek High School.
Speaking at the official launch on Wednesday at the Nedbank Campus in Windhoek, Nedbank Namibia chief commercial officer JG van Graan said the event has been upgraded to match international standards.
“We continue to innovate and have upgraded the race to keep up with international running trends. These include the new venue at WHS Vegkop Stadium, revamped 5km and 10km routes through the heart of Windhoek, as well as a LiveXpo that brings together health, sport, lifestyle, and outdoor living under one roof,” he said.
Van Graan said this year’s race will offer something for everyone, from elite runners aiming for fast times to families looking for shared experiences.
“At Nedbank Namibia, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone to move forward—whether on the road, on a trail, or in life. Our slogan, ‘Money experts who do good,’ isn’t just a line we use in our marketing; it is a principle that guides how we show up in communities, design our products, and support events like this one,” he said.
Race organiser Frank Bombosch said about 3,000 people have participated in previous local running events, and they are targeting 5,000 participants this year.
“It’s an ambitious goal, and we need all the help from media, partners, and sponsors to activate groups, schools, and communities to take part,” he said.
The weekend starts with the all-new LiveXpo—a race village at Vegkop Stadium featuring exhibitors, vendors, food stalls, drinks, music, and family entertainment.
Windhoek’s streets will host the main event on Sunday, 7 September. The day includes the elite 10km race and the 5km and 10km fun run categories, which are open to all runners.
Bombosch said the elite race will attract Namibia’s top 500 runners. Qualifying times are 55 minutes for men and 60 minutes for women.
Top runners like Rainhold Thomas, Simon Matias, Daniel Paulus, and defending champion Martha Shivolo are expected to compete.
Group entries are available for schools, clubs, and companies.
A special Schools Challenge has been introduced to encourage youth participation. The top three schools with the most finishers will win N$10 000, N$7 500, and N$5 000. Three additional schools can each win N$4 000 by entering 20 athletes.
